Agenda item

The Director of Learning Services will outline proposals for the future of Leicester Adult Skills and Learning Service.

33.1    Margaret Libreri (Director, Learning Services) and Kerry Gray (Acting Interim Head of Service, Adults) presented the report which set out the financial position of the Leicester Adult Skills and Learning Service.

33.2    The summary made reference to a report that had been presented by Mark Noble at a previous Scrutiny Commission meeting, and the continuing budget pressures the Service faced through reduced income. Margaret stated there was a risk the Service would decline, and that it was imperative that the budget issues were addressed, and that management would look at the key priorities for the Service and the City.

33.3    Margaret referred to paragraph 2.1 in the report, in which there was a clear acknowledgement of the significant contribution of the Service to the City. The Chair referred to the reference in the paragraph to the Economic Development, Culture and Tourism Scrutiny Commission, which had underlined the importance of providing an Adult Education Service in the city which addressed the fundamental challenges of low basic skills and low qualification base and at the same time contributed to the wellbeing and civil, social, economic, democratic and cultural life of the City and its citizens, which the Chair would emphasise to the Executive.

33.4    Margaret stated there were further challenges to the Service due to the reduced year on year funding from the national Skills Funding Agency (SFA), which had fallen by 8% (£434,000) between 2010/2011 and 2012/2013.

33.5    Margaret referred to the two scenarios outlined in the report, with situation most likely to result in Scenario 1, with Scenario 2 being the worst forecast. Margaret reported that the Council would be wise to project a 10% cut in Adult Skills budget from the SFA for 2013/2014 and 2014/2015 based on past years allocations. She stated that Adult Community Learning was currently protected but remained a risk.

33.6    Margaret informed members of the key areas for reductions in paragraph 2.3 in the report, and bullet points contained within:

-       Class sizes were small (average 9 people), and to increase efficiency class sizes would need to increase, and rationalise provision across the city, which would require political approval, but was an opportunity for active engagement with other providers in the city.

-       The right people were needed for the job, which would require a configuration of staff.

-       Data management was not efficient and limited the capacity to target groups, and required improvement.

33.7    Margaret also reported that it was not always clear why venues were used, which could be expensive. Margaret also informed the meeting that WNF funding had ceased, though Adult Skills and Learning were still providing the service. It was suggested that Multi Access Centres might be best placed elsewhere in the Council. The report also questionedif there was any synergy with the Connexions services for 16-18 NEETs?

33.8    Margaret moved on to paragraph 2.4 in the report which suggested the Service reconsider and reprioritise the curriculum priorities, for example apprenticeships which might be better placed with another city provider who could take the City priority forward more effectively.

33.9    The need for the establishment of a governing body, and where to locate the Adult Education College within the Council were highlighted in paragraph 2.5 as issues for consideration.

33.10  Margaret introduced the recommendations and options available to the Executive in the report at paragraph 2.6, and highlighted strategic and operational priorities and how they would be best delivered. It was stated that issues raised in the report needed to be completed by March 2013 in order for changes to be in place for the next academic year. One of the options was to appoint one of the two current senior managers to act as Interim Head of Service, a position that Kerry Gray was currently acting up in, though the report suggested additional financial assistance and backfill of managers posts further down the structure.

33.11  The Chair stated the problem would not have gone away if ignored, and that money was needed from external sources as Leicester City Council did not provide money for adult learning. The Chair also referred to a previous report from Mark Noble, Head of Finance, which referred to class sizes, and reported that classes designed to skill people were approximately £7.00 per hour, but community-based classes were approximately £20.00 per hour and this had previously been queried. It had also been noted previously that not all money spent on adult learning was in a structured environment. The Chair stated it would be helpful if this could again be revisited.

33.12  The Chair also stated that since the funding for MACs had ceased, funding them through the Safeguarding Adult Learning Fund might not be the right source of funding. The Chair added that with regards to any synergy with Connexions services for 16-18 NEETs, Trevor Pringle, Director Planning and Commissioning had a role to play in the reorganisation of the Connexions Service, which might also provide advice to adults looking to entre learning. The Chair also asked that the target numbers for learners in all subjects be revisited. Margaret stated she was looking at the National Careers Service change and the work programme at the Job Centre, which might change the context of MACs. It was agreed that target figures would be provided as requested by the Chair.

33.13  Margaret informed the meeting that there had been a change in legislation with regards to Connexions, and since September 2012, it was Leicester City Council’s responsibility to track vulnerable groups. Margaret reported there had been no successful tender for Connexions, so the decision had been made to take Connexions into Leicester City Council. She added that as the changed bedded down, the Council would look at the capacity to extend the service to 19 year olds.

33.14  The Chair informed the meeting that at the Adult Education College, she had noticed a room with information on Women’s Day, and had noted the room was only used Monday afternoons. Kerry informed the meeting that current negotiations on the usage of the room by LeicesterHer Day organisers were underway.

33.15  The Chair stated that the marketing of courses around the city needed improvement, and fees needed adjusting so that those who could afford to pay should. She stated that more information should be available on who wanted to learn at what course, from where. She also requested that information on ESOL be provided. She added that the future of the Service might involve increasing the number of people on courses. Kerry reported that a decision had been made three years ago to cease door-to-door information, and that 2012 had been the first year that the service had felt the impact of the decision with reduced numbers of learners. She added that they were looking at ways to get regular information on courses to people, and were looking at a possible monthly course listing. Kelly stated that a lot of information had been gathered on who wanted to learn, and that work would take place on developing the website with areas for people to express an interest in areas if learning.

33.16  Councillor Chaplin requested that information on other departments in Leicester City Council that could provide funding for Adult Learning, for example, Library Services, be brought to a future meeting. She stated that the Service needed to be provided and that joined up thinking and joined up working was required. Margaret informed the meeting that Learning Service was sited in the Council where it was due to operational capacity, and believed it was best to stick to the current arrangements at present rather than unravel issues. She stated that before 31^st March 2013, where best to place the service would be addressed. The Chair stated that where the service went needed clear leadership and a strong management structure for LASALS, and that the Council needed to be more aware to support the service.

33.17  Councillor Chaplin referred to current priorities and asked who decided what was placed on a curriculum. She stated that more concrete evaluation of courses was required, and suggested that what some organisations were delivering might not be necessary.

33.18  Councillor Chaplin suggested that the website might be a useful tool in bringing people together through e-learning, as transport in the evenings was an influencing factor in course attendance. Kerry reported that there was currently one E-learning course for customer services, and that the work involved in creating resources and keeping them uploaded onto the website was more work than people thought.

33.19  Councillor Cassidy stated he believed that the Adult Education College lacked leadership and that a Principal should be reinstated, and not be led by Leicester City Council, as adult education should be more led outside Leicester City Council offices. He also asked for the true economic costs of corporate overheads be made available, as the cost of accommodation needed to be investigated. Margaret stated that the corporate overheads had seen a one year only reduction, and had gone up again, as they were part of the budget setting process every year. The Chair asked for peoples thoughts on having a Principal reinstated at the premises. Margaret stated she would take the suggestion away with her to give it thought. Councillor Cassidy suggested the job role could take on responsibility of Adult Education in the City as well. Margaret informed the meeting the Service was waiting for the outcome of the review and that early New Year they present options to the Executive, so that a decisions could be taken from 31^st March 2013 onwards.

33.20  Councillor Shelton referred to the average of nine class sizes, sometimes less, and asked if a course was finished if there were not enough attendees. Kerry responded that any class less than 10 have to be approved by the curriculum manager. She added that there was more work required around needs analysis, and mapping around the city to avoid duplication, and would be matched against targets from SFA as part of the planning process. Meetings would also be held with the County Council to discuss border issues. Consultation would also be undertaken with existing learners, and there would be a neighbourhood review and an opportunity to contact non-learners.

33.21  Councillor Chaplin asked that as part of the review, had consideration been given to working jointly with County? Margaret responded that it hadn’t come across the table but the idea could be taken back.

33.22  The Chair asked that the Scrutiny Commission be kept informed on issues raised in Appendix 1. The Chair referred to the ESOL update at Appendix 2, whereby, following the report from the Economic Development, Culture and Tourism Scrutiny Commission and representation to the Executive, and the Executive agreed to fund additional resource for ESOL. The Chair said she was pleased to note the progress in Paragraphs 5-6 of Appendix 2, and that VAL would be running a course to support volunteers. The Chair noted that the Leicestershire Learning Network (LSLN) members were not supportive of Nottingham’s Begin model. She added there was a need on the ground but was not sure how the need was being met.

33.23  The Chair suggested that improvements should be made to marketing and joint marketing, and further information be brought back to the meeting. The Chair thanked Margaret and Kerry for the report.

RESOLVED:

1.    That the report be noted.

2.    That the target figures on the numbers of learners in all subjects be revisited and information brought to a future meeting.

3.    That information on where funding for Adult Learning Services can be gained from other departments in the Council be investigated and information brought to a future meeting.