Deputies Andrea Dudley-Owen and Carl Meerveld were excluded from discussions with the grant-aided college on the grounds that they ‘have or will have children attending the colleges as fee-payers’.
In their absence, the remaining three members – Paul Le Pelley, Neil Inder and David De Lisle – unanimously called for a phased £3.5m. reduction in funding.
Unlike Deputy Meerveld, who was barred even before negotiations began, Deputy Dudley-Owen said she had been in the room for the first few meetings.
‘I began negotiations then was excluded after enrolling my son to Elizabeth College, which was interpreted as a special interest [under rule 49 of the States rules of procedure],’ she said.
‘I abided by and adhered to advice from the procureur and the chief secretary of Education. However, was I happy? No I wasn’t. I think the rule is too vague and so generalised that it can be interpreted to fit any interest you could have in a community as small as Guernsey.’
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