To receive a report on the Adult Learning Inspectorate’s inspection of the Council’s Adult and Community Learning (ACL) provision, and proposed actions of the Lifelong Learning Development Unit (LLDU) to address issues arising from the inspection report.

The Committee received a report on the Adult Learning Inspectorate’s inspection of the Council’s Adult and Community Learning (ACL) provision, and proposed actions of the Lifelong Learning Development Unit (LLDU) to address issues arising from the inspection report.

The Policy and Commissioning Manager reported that Herefordshire Council received funding from the Learning and Skills Council (LSC) to provide learning opportunities in Herefordshire.  The Adult Learning Inspectorate (ALI) inspects the quality of education and training received by adult learners and young people in England.  The Council’s adult learning provision had been inspected for the first time by the ALI in January 2003 and a report of its findings had been published in April 2003.  A number of significant strengths were identified.  However, there were a number of key weaknesses, which primarily related to the need to improve quality assurance and equal opportunity monitoring processes, the level of resources currently available to properly manage the service, and how this could affect any future expansion of the service to meet need.  The ALI considered that the quality of provision was not adequate to meet the reasonable needs of those receiving it and that a re-inspection would be undertaken, now reported to commence in early 2004.  Following the inspection the LLDU had drawn up a Post Inspection Action Plan, integral to which would be the development of an annual Adult Learning Plan (ALP) and the progress of the planned restructuring of the LLDU.

The Director of Policy and Community highlighted that the level of funding received by Herefordshire Council to support adult learning was significantly lower than the national average.  This was a result of current grant allocation levels being based on spend in this area by the former Hereford and Worcester County Council.  She also remarked that this was in common with many rural authorities.  Officers of the Council, together with the Local LSC had engaged with the national LSC to explore opportunities to redress this inequity. However, current indications were that funding allocations would move towards formula funding, based on student numbers, which was unlikely to redress the base funding issues.  She sought the support of the Committee for the actions being taken in support of the funding issues.

Mr Curless, Chief Executive, Hereford and Worcester LSC, expressed his dissatisfaction with the current funding levels which placed sever restraints on funding for the various learning areas.  While the local LSC would be taking up the issue with the National LSC he would appreciate any further support from the Council.

In the course of debating the report the Committee supported an earlier view that it was important that the County had a good local learning and skills base to help attract new businesses into the area and provide re-training opportunities for of the local work force.

RESOLVED:

That

(a) the Committee support the actions of the Executive in seeking to redress the inequality in funding to support adult learning;

(b) the report be noted and at a future meeting, the Committee consider the post-inspection Action Plan, Adult Learning Inspectorate report, Adult Learning Plan for March 2003 and proposals for internal restructuring with a view to making recommendations, as appropriate, to the Cabinet Member (Community and Social Development) and;

(c) prior to that meeting, the views of external bodies be sought and, if required, arrangements be made for those bodies to present information to the Committee at its meeting.