City College Brighton and Hove chiefs are confident of a bright future despite concerns about current financial difficulties.

The college’s senior leaders and governors say they would be in a surplus financially by the end of the year.

Speaking to The Argus, principal Lynn Thackway said the current problems were being caused by government changes to higher education funding.


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Under new guidelines, cash that would have originally gone straight to the college is now distributed directly to students from the Student Loans Company.

She said: “It’s put a strain on the cash flow and that’s what causes some of the problems; that the income coming in doesn’t match.”

Mrs Thackway added: “By the end of June all our suppliers will be paid and up to date with payments, there won’t be anyone behind. The new site will position us to be in a stronger position going forward and we’ve taken into account all the cuts coming on board.”

In a report from governors, which has been distributed to members of staff, bosses answered a number of concerns raised by teachers including the impact of the current situation on the college’s standing in the community and business world and the necessity of pushing ahead with a new building project.

Critics of the redevelopment plans say the change in focus has caused much of the financial problems currently being experienced by staff and students.

But Mrs Thackway dismissed the allegations, claiming the problems would have come whether the new build was going ahead or not.

She said: “I understand how the staff feel but if the newbuild hadn’t been going ahead we’d still be in this position. It’s easy to see the two as if they’re linked but they’re not.”

Other concerns included allegations that students were unable to take exams because the college couldn’t pay for them.

However governors said that only three students experienced a delay to their requested exams but all were re-scheduled.