JOB losses and cuts to courses cannot be ruled out as a crisis-hit college looks to build for the future, the new head has said.

Monica Box, interim principal at Brighton and Hove City College, said bosses would have to be prudent as they moved forward to tackle the cash-flow problems that have blighted the centre in recent months.

In her first interview since her appointment, she said a loss of financial control had led to the problems.

She said: “It was a lack of control really, tight controls of finance. As soon as governors became aware they started to put the controls in place. So I can very confidently say that is taking place now.

“But obviously when you have a situation like that, you have a period of time when you are dealing with the problems. That is where we are at the moment.

“We are being very prudent, we are being very careful, but we are making sure the learners that are here now have got the resources that they need.”

She added: “They were all management issues that have been recognised. It was a lack of budgetary control if you like.”

Speaking about the future, the interim head said they were currently planning the curriculum, adding that they could not rule out further job cuts and cuts to courses.

She said: “Every further education college in the country has some reduced funding so we will be addressing that.

“Certainly if there was any staffing change related to that people would be informed very quickly and then there would be proper communication.”

Speaking from her office at the Pelham Street campus, she quashed rumours the college had received loans from the council, Government and education funding agencies.

However, she said they had secured an overdraft with Barclays to see them through the difficult period.

The Argus reported in February that the college still owed city suppliers thousands of pounds in unpaid bills.

She confirmed the amount to be in the “tens of thousands” adding that finance bosses were still “dealing with it”.

By the end of April the aim is that all suppliers would be paid within the statutory 60 to 90 days, she added.

Ms Box, a specialist college troubleshooter, was brought in on an interim contract last month, replacing Lynn Thackway who stepped down citing a family illness.

Days later we reported the college had not yet filed their accounts – which they were supposed to have done by December 31.

Speaking yesterday she confirmed the accounts were still “sitting on a desk” somewhere in the building.

She added: “We’ve got that work virtually completed and expect to have it completed in the next week or so.”

She said the college had received a notice of concern over the late accounts which could, if not addressed, impact applications for future funding.

She also said redevelopment of the main campus would be put on hold until the current financial situation was sorted.

She added: “The students are our priority.

“I would want to assure that we are in a very vibrant and thriving education community and anyone wanting to come here will be very much welcomed and I think they will find it a very exciting experience.

“If you walk around it has a very good feel to it.”

The Argus:

The woman in charge of college recovery

MONICA Box has spent her working life in education.

Having started out as a teacher, she has worked in principal roles for the last 15 years.

Her first such position was at the turn of the millennium at Calderdale College in West Yorkshire.

She stepped down in the summer of 2007 when she took charge of City College Manchester where in 2010 she oversaw the opening of Britain’s largest college after her centre merged with another called Mancat.

From Manchester, she moved to South Kent College where she helped stabilise the college following a turbulent few months.

She then went to Kensington and Chelsea College and was most recently interim chief executive at the Barnfield Federation.

Lynn Thackway, who stepped down as principal at City College in February citing a family illness, was at the Luton college before Ms Box.

As well as her various principal roles over the last few years, Ms Box has her own leadership and management services company.

Launched in April 2010, the company is described as providing “interim leadership and management services within the further education and schools sector” as well as “support to small to medium-sized businesses looking to create efficiencies and expand their provision.”

Read The Argus' exclusive Q&A with Monica Box here