Agenda item

This report proposes the setting up of new self-financing programmes within Adult and Community Education in order to maintain and develop learning for personal development.

Advice of the Advisory Panel

That the Executive Member be advised:

(i)           That the establishment of new self-financing programmes be approved

(ii)         That the variation of the Adult and Community Education fee policy to enable fees to be set on a per class basis according to the cost of each of the classes be approved and the removal of free places for those learners in receipt of a means tested benefit be approved.

(iii)       That the setting up of a hardship fund be agreed in principal and the details be delegated to officers (to remain within the budget of this report) and that a report be brought back in one year.

Decision of the Executive Member

RESOLVED:That the advice of the Advisory Panel be accepted and endorsed.

REASON:                          To maintain and develop learning for personal development.

Members considered a report that sought approval for the setting up of new self-financing programmes within Adult and Community Education in order to maintain and develop learning for personal development.

The Officer said that York was not unique in embarking on a new Self-Financing Programme (SFP) and that there had been a significant squeeze on funding. York was committed to increasing the Skills for Life Programme and maintaining a broad study programme and it was important to see the SFP within this context. There had been a steady decline in persons using the adult education and community programme over a number of years and the Officer said that they wanted to try and regain some of the vibrancy that had been lost over the years.

Members raised concerns that it would not be possible to continue providing concessions to those people who were on means-tested benefits. Officers said that it would apply mainly to leisure based courses such as Pilates, Yoga, Badminton and Tai Chi. Members felt that it was important to continue offering concessions for all courses. Officers said that it was a question of where the funding came from for the concessions and the new SFP courses would be marketed in a different way with a minimum level of paperwork, easy method payments, quick sign up and minimum levels of evaluation. If concessions are offered for a course then that course is seen as being in the public funding arena and must therefore be assessed by an inspector. This would no longer be necessary if some of the courses offered were part of the SFP.

Members said that recreational/leisure courses were often the first step back into education for people and the SFP could be detrimental to attracting them to enrol. They felt that there should be some form of hardship fund available if the SFP were to be approved.  There would still be a large range of programmes where concessions would be available. Officers commented that the largest use of concessions was for further education courses and qualifications rather than for leisure/recreational based courses.

Members felt that the Council was supposed to be providing the Adult and Community Education programme to all persons and not just a select few and if a hardship fund were to be introduced that it be well advertised.

Members then considered the following options:

Option A        to develop a self-funded Personal and Community Development Learning programme

Option B       to make a phased withdrawal from Personal and Community Development Learning

Option C       to continue with the current mixed arrangements

Advice of the Advisory Panel

That the Executive Member be advised:

(i)           That the establishment of new self-financing programmes be approved

(ii)         That the variation of the Adult and Community Education fee policy to enable fees to be set on a per class basis according to the cost of each of the classes be approved and the removal of free places for those learners in receipt of a means tested benefit be approved.

(iii)       That the setting up of a hardship fund be agreed in principal and the details be delegated to officers (to remain within the budget of this report) and that a report be brought back in one year.

Decision of the Executive Member

RESOLVED:       That the advice of the Advisory Panel be accepted and endorsed.

REASON:            To maintain and develop learning for personal development.