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City of York Council |
Committee Minutes |
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Meeting |
Decision Session - Executive Member for Culture, Leisure and Communities |
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Date |
4 October 2022 |
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Present |
Councillor Smalley (Executive Member) |
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In Attendance |
Angela Padfield, Head of Adult Learning Service, York Learning Paul Cliff, Shared Head of Adult Learning and Skills (York and North Yorkshire), York Learning Pauline Stuchfield, Director of Customer and Communities (Remotely) |
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9. Declarations of Interest (10:01)
The Executive Member was asked to declare, at this point in the meeting, any disclosable pecuniary interests, or other registerable interests he might have in the respect of business on the agenda, if he had not already done so in advance on the Register of Interests. None were declared.
10. Minutes (10:02)
Resolved: That the minutes of the Decision Session held on 6 September be approved and signed by the Executive Member as a correct record.
11. Public Participation (10:02)
It was reported that there had been no registrations to speak at the session under the Council’s Public Participation Scheme.
12. York Learning Strategic Plan 2022-23 (10:03)
The Executive Member considered a report that presented York Learning’s position for the academic year 2022/23.
The Head of Adult Learning Service and the Shared Head of Adult Learning and Skills highlighted areas of the provision that continued to grow and succeed as well as areas for development, to meet the new strategic direction.
It was noted that the Strategic Plan:
· flowed directly from the Adult Learning and Skills Engagement Strategy, which was approved by consultation in July 2022. A finalised version of the Strategy would shortly be published on City of York Council’s and North Yorkshire County Council’s websites.
· would help shape the offer provided by York Learning and would widen the demographics to support more individuals to overcome the barriers to learning.
· would enable the service to have a marked impact on the local economic needs and support a greater range of individuals to meet their potential.
Officers confirmed that further funding had been sourced through the government’s Multiply initiative. The overall objective of the fund was to increase the levels of functional numeracy in the UK adult population. The Strategic Plan would set the direction to widening and broadening engagement to allow more individuals to access learning to achieve better skills and more confidence.
In response to questions raised regarding the new course in Ukrainian Language and Culture and the challenges on the service to deliver the additional courses, the Executive Member was informed that engagement had been slow, but officers were hopeful that there would be improvement following the summer break. The delivery of the additional courses had so far been managed but moving forward a review on management hours would be undertaken to address any pressures on staff.
The Director of Customer and Communities reiterated that the Strategic Plan would help achieve the council’s priorities for York and she highlighted the outstanding partnership working that the service undertook. She noted the risks associated with the funding streams and that the service was always conscious of the financial position of residents, particularly those with multicomplex needs.
The Executive Member thanked officers for the report and agreed with the Director that all staff involved in the service showed a fantastic level of enthusiasm.
Resolved: That the Strategic / Service Plan be approved.
Reason: To help monitor the service and ensure sound governance arrangement for York Learning Services.
Cllr Smalley, Executive Member
[The meeting started at 10.00am and finished at 10.11am].