Petition to add a Solent Pensions Action Group paper to the Board of Governors agenda
The Issue
The Solent Pensions Action Group (SPAG) decided to submit a combined paper to the Board of Governors on 26 August 2026 to directly challenge the forced mass transfer of Academic staff to a wholly owned subsidiary (SUSL) on 1 July 2026, and the subsequent threat of wide-scale redundancies (at-risk) under a Section 188 of TULRCA on 2 July 2026. This development represents a critical escalation of the ongoing dispute over the university’s highly controversial Strategy 2035 restructuring plans. When the university decided to put 44 Course Leaders and up to 70FTE Professional Service staff at risk of redundancy, immediately following an all-staff TUPE transfer to SUSL (Loss of Statutory Defined Benefit Pensions), moved the university from standard restructuring to a severe self-inflicted structural crisis. The combined paper directly challenges the legality and financial justification for transferring all staff to the wholly owned subsidiary (SUSL) and recommends that the Board of Governors instruct the SUSL Board of Directors to legally dissolve Solent University Services Limited with immediate effect; and to transfer all Solent staff back to the parent institution (Solent University). Hence, the ‘financial justification’ for transferring all staff to SUSL “no longer exists” following announcements made by the LGPS Fund Actuary, SCAPE and Teachers’ Pension Scheme (TPS) Advisory Board on 15 June 2026 (a significant reduction in employers pension contributions). Furthermore, the combined paper proposes sweeping reform of the executive-heavy corporate governance model at the university to restore academic voice (Academic Board) and thereby re-establish collective ownership of academic standards and curriculum decisions, rather than permitting corporate management or top-down HR (P&D) directives to dictate educational policies. The combined paper further recommends that the Board of Governors impose a one-year moratorium (31 August 2026 to 31 August 2027) on the disposal of the university’s capital assets.
The governing body holds ultimate responsibility for the University, including determining its educational mission, ensuring effective management, overseeing financial control systems and the safeguarding of the University’s assets (Further and Higher Education Act 1992). To that end, the Solent Pensions Action Group decided on the 26 August 2026 to use provision under the University’s instrument and articles of government to place the combined paper before an extraordinary meeting of the Board of Governors by obtaining 100 signatures.
Please sign this petition to demonstrate how crucial it is for the Board to act responsibly and incorporate this paper for deliberations. Every signature counts in ensuring our voices are heard and our concerns are addressed effectively.
Dr Mark Farwell
Solent Pensions Action Group (SPAG)
138
The Issue
The Solent Pensions Action Group (SPAG) decided to submit a combined paper to the Board of Governors on 26 August 2026 to directly challenge the forced mass transfer of Academic staff to a wholly owned subsidiary (SUSL) on 1 July 2026, and the subsequent threat of wide-scale redundancies (at-risk) under a Section 188 of TULRCA on 2 July 2026. This development represents a critical escalation of the ongoing dispute over the university’s highly controversial Strategy 2035 restructuring plans. When the university decided to put 44 Course Leaders and up to 70FTE Professional Service staff at risk of redundancy, immediately following an all-staff TUPE transfer to SUSL (Loss of Statutory Defined Benefit Pensions), moved the university from standard restructuring to a severe self-inflicted structural crisis. The combined paper directly challenges the legality and financial justification for transferring all staff to the wholly owned subsidiary (SUSL) and recommends that the Board of Governors instruct the SUSL Board of Directors to legally dissolve Solent University Services Limited with immediate effect; and to transfer all Solent staff back to the parent institution (Solent University). Hence, the ‘financial justification’ for transferring all staff to SUSL “no longer exists” following announcements made by the LGPS Fund Actuary, SCAPE and Teachers’ Pension Scheme (TPS) Advisory Board on 15 June 2026 (a significant reduction in employers pension contributions). Furthermore, the combined paper proposes sweeping reform of the executive-heavy corporate governance model at the university to restore academic voice (Academic Board) and thereby re-establish collective ownership of academic standards and curriculum decisions, rather than permitting corporate management or top-down HR (P&D) directives to dictate educational policies. The combined paper further recommends that the Board of Governors impose a one-year moratorium (31 August 2026 to 31 August 2027) on the disposal of the university’s capital assets.
The governing body holds ultimate responsibility for the University, including determining its educational mission, ensuring effective management, overseeing financial control systems and the safeguarding of the University’s assets (Further and Higher Education Act 1992). To that end, the Solent Pensions Action Group decided on the 26 August 2026 to use provision under the University’s instrument and articles of government to place the combined paper before an extraordinary meeting of the Board of Governors by obtaining 100 signatures.
Please sign this petition to demonstrate how crucial it is for the Board to act responsibly and incorporate this paper for deliberations. Every signature counts in ensuring our voices are heard and our concerns are addressed effectively.
Dr Mark Farwell
Solent Pensions Action Group (SPAG)
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Petition created on 31 August 2026