Lucy Cavendish still refer to UUK.

http://www.lucy-cav.cam.ac.uk/pages/students/tutorial-office/blue-book.php
http://www.caths.cam.ac.uk/home/?m=page&id=373
http://www.homerton.cam.ac.uk/studentlife/life.html
http://www.kings.cam.ac.uk/facilities/accommodation/details.html

The revision of HMO licencing is on the agenda for the city council’s community services scrutiny committee.

These institutions appear to be in breech of section 3.12 of the ANUK code.

“During the year, the 36 Colleges from Cambridge University have chosen to leave the UUK Code and will now be registered with the local authority for the next five years.”

It appears either this was wrong, or the position has changed since it was written.

Cllr Smart,

Many thanks for your rapid and informative reply.

I am disappointed that it turns out that the colleges’ de-registration from the UUK scheme has not resulted in an opportunity to improve the Cambridge University colleges’ practices with respect to accommodation.

Perhaps it would still be useful for the city council to explain the position on its website; as many colleges still refer to the UUK code and I’ve only been able to find one describing their position with respect to the new code. (Not mentioning their membership of the code its itself a breach - so calls into question their other assurances)

It is interesting that this new code refers to Local Authority standards for cooking and washing facilities; so I would like to urge you not to allow exemptions from the usual standards for rooms which are rented on an annual basis.

I am disappointed that it appears nothing can be done at this point about colleges evicting students with little notice, not having time limits on their accommodation related disciplinary procedures, and not having caps on fines which can be imposed on students and that colleges will be able to return to their secretive ways of setting rents and charges and allocating rooms and again creating an environment conducive to abuse and corruption.

While there are pros and cons to each code I think the ANUK is weaker in key areas of both cooking / washing facilities and transparency; I realise that’s not a matter for you but something MPs need to sort out.

–

Richard Taylor
Cambridge
http://www.rtaylor.co.uk

http://www.anuk.org.uk/Media/PDF/oM%20mins%2023%2010%2009.pdf

It was reported that applications to join the ANUK/Unipol Code had been received from most of the Cambridge University colleges, who had previously been members of the UUK Code. The NCA informed the meeting that before the applications could
be accepted it had been agreed that a member of the Codes verification team undertake an inspection of five sample colleges, to assess the extent to which they complied with the Code – especially in respect of health and safety. The CoM was informed that the inspections were scheduled to take place on the 28th October 2009.
Paddy Jackman (CUBO) reported that UUK was not keen to see movement between the Codes and expressed some disappointment that no contact had been made with UUK at the time the colleges first began applying for ANUK/Unipol Code membership. In response, Martin Blakey informed the meeting that CLG had been acting as an intermediatry in the discussions so it was assumed they had liaised with UUK about this. It was agreed that should any similar applications be received in future, direct contact would be made with UUK and that UUK be invited to comment on the overall application being made by the Cambridge Colleges.

Presumably “CLG” is the department for Communities and Local Government; it might be worth asking them what the college’s representations were.

Dear Mr Taylor,

Officer have informed me that the Colleges of Cambridge University have now transferred from UUK to another body which gives them exemption from registration with the City Council. This is called Accreditations Network UK (ANUK).

Best Wishes
Catherine Smart

The colleges are now listed, as unverified members, of the ANUK code at:
http://www.anuk.org.uk/LargeCode/code.asp

This code requires the colleges to comply with Local Authority standards for washing and cooking facilities; still increasing the role of the council. The key question will be if the council permit exemptions for those rooms let on a year round basis.

Like UUK, ANUK is not subject to the FOI act so results of inspection reports will not be accessible to the public. It will be interesting to see if the colleges pass the verification inspections ( it may be that the colleges inspect each other) however the colleges have already declared as part of the application procedure that they meet the requirements of the code.

The ANUK code is strong on the returning of deposits - requiring them to be returned within 28 days; but lacks the requirement for open publication of licence agreements and charging policies required under the UUK code.

Currently, Universities UK has 133 members, namely the executive heads of all the UK university institutions and some colleges of higher education.

Source:
http://www.universitiesuk.ac.uk/aboutus/whoweare/pages/members.aspx