Agenda item

Report ED15099

Members considered a proposed reorganisation of the Council’s Adult Education service aimed at returning the service to a balanced budget position. A continuing annual reduction in the Adult Skills (AS) grant, uncertainty over the long term future of the Community Learning (CL) grant, and recommendations from an Ofsted inspection in March 2015 were all considered in developing a future strategy.

Officers recommended a predominant focus on adults and communities with the greatest identified need. Under the proposed new delivery model the volume of traditional non-accredited learning provision (leisure type courses) would significantly reduce. Increased community partnership work and a reduction in traditional adult learning provision would reduce the need for accommodation and infrastructure costs, potentially releasing the Widmore site for school expansion. Sites at Penge and Orpington would be retained. 

Report ED15099 provided an implementation timeline along with an overview of the model’s benefits and impacts. The report indicated how new Community Learning funding might be apportioned, including targeted delivery of CL funding to engage with long term unemployed adults. A target completion date of 31^st July 2016 was proposed for the model, with full implementation from the start of the 2016/17 academic year.

The model also enabled the service to move closer to being commission led both in delivery and backroom office functions, and would put it in a strong position to work alongside other council services to tackle social deprivation impacts and support early intervention processes.

The model would focus CL funding at the greatest need for adult education services e.g. to assist in attaining employment and would no longer be used to subsidise leisure type courses.

Councillor Alexa Michael (Bromley Common and Keston) addressed the meeting in her capacity as LEA Governor to Bromley Adult Education College. Cllr Michael hoped it would be possible to retain some leisure courses, particularly those requiring the use of special equipment. Should the Widmore site be used as a school, Cllr Michael asked if such courses could continue on site in either an area designated for adult education or by using part of future school facilities. It would be expensive to move the special equipment for courses such as wood carving and sculpture.

The Portfolio Holder for Education acknowledge the importance of leisure courses to residents. But weighed against the service overspend and the need to protect front line services for vulnerable residents, it was necessary to implement a different model for adult education services, driving them to those who need the services most. The Portfolio Holder hoped that a number of the leisure courses could be taken forward by others in the community. Costs associated with moving any equipment should the Widmore site revert to school use would be costed during the consultation period on service restructure.

The Portfolio Holder’s comments were supported by other Members. It was important that all services were closely examined and for adult education it was possible to achieve savings. It was hoped the market would step forward to fill gaps in leisure course provision; non-financial support would also be provided to any who wished to set up within the market to provide courses.

RESOLVED that the Assistant Director, Education start consultation with staff and their representatives, stakeholders, and service users in regard to restructuring and reducing the adult education service as outlined in Report ED15099, in order that the budget overspend can be reduced and a level of service for L B Bromley residents retained which is focussed on areas of greatest need.