Thread by @GoldsmithsUCU

🔥EXPLOSIVE thread on #TaxiGate @GoldsmithsUoL: An FOI request has revealed that Goldsmiths warden @FCorner has spent nearly £20k 😲 of College money on taxis since she took up her post in August 2019. 1/14

2/ The reply to the FOI request begins by ‘apologis[ing] for the delay in responding’. The scandalous content of what is revealed probably explains why there was so much dithering. #CornersCabs

3/ The FOI reply covers 3 academic years 2018-21. During 2018-19, the previous warden, Pat Loughrey, was in post. For part of 2019-20, we were in lockdown. During 2020-21, staff worked from home. So how did @FCorner manage to rake up such obscene taxi bills?

4/ Amount spent on taxis:
2018-19: £446.38 (previous warden).
2019-20: £10,428.61 (of which £1,995.90 was disclosed as a taxable benefit to the Warden)
2020-21: £8,683.14 (of which £7,079.81 was disclosed as a taxable benefit to the Warden)

5/ Taxis for College business are tax exempt. Where the cost is noted as a “taxable benefit” that means that @GoldsmithsUoL has paid for the taxi for the warden’s personal use. The previous warden, Pat Loughrey, spent £0 on such taxis in 2018-19.

6/ Average cost of taxi use over the year:
2018-19: £8.58 per week (previous warden).
2019-20: £200.55 per week (@FCorner)
2020-21: £166.98 per week (@FCorner)

7/ The amount paid in taxis for College business by @FCorner (i.e. total minus the “taxable benefit” amount) shows that, in 2019-20, she spent £7986.33 MORE than the previous warden and £1156.95 MORE in 2020-21.

8/ The reply justifies #CornersCabs as: “The responses for 2020-21 include travel during a critical period of the Covid-19 pandemic. At this time it was essential for the Warden to be able to travel more safely to and from campus in order to provide leadership for the College.”

9/ In 2020-21, there was very little activity on campus due to Covid! Was the warden really coming into College to sit on her own in the ivory towers and hold zoom meetings? Even when restrictions were eased, she told us that she was abiding by govt advice and working from home!

10/ During the pandemic, some security guards and cleaners were still expected to come into College. The health & wellbeing of these essential workers is of no less importance than the warden’s, but they weren’t offered the luxury of private taxis paid for by @GoldsmithsUoL.

11/ We might expect financial decisions like this to be made for the CEO of a private company. But @GoldsmithsUoL is a PUBLIC institution. This is either public money or student fees being funnelled into funding a luxury lifestyle, all signed off by Dinah Caine, Chair of Council

12/ This info only came to light after a FOI request, but @FCorner promised us “radical transparency”! What other reckless financial decisions have been made? Where is the accountability? Council is dominated by private business interests. This must stop. #DemocratiseGoldsmiths

13/ As well as the hypocrisy of being so profligate while claiming the College is in financial crisis, how does this decadent use of taxis square with @FCorner’s supposed eco-friendly credentials? Taxis are hardly an eco-friendly way to travel, especially if travelling alone.

14/ While we’re at it, what’s with the sudden appearance of all the Bentleys on campus? These cars may be very posh but they are massive gas guzzlers. Anything to do with you Frances Corner?