Agenda item

A report was submitted which provided a progress update to enable effective commissioning of AEB provision to SCR residents from 1 August 2021.

On 3 August 2020, the MHCLG had confirmed the enactment of the Devolution Order.  As a result of which, the MCA would become responsible for c£36m of devolved Adult Education Budget (AEB) from 1 August 2021, which would provide funding for the delivery of adult skills activities to the residents of Barnsley, Doncaster, Rotherham and Sheffield.  During the interim year, the MCA had a series of responsibilities to prepare in readiness for the full implementation in 2021.

Mayor Jones sought assurance that the local authorities would continue to receive funding.  She also urged that consideration should be given to those companies that worked hand in glove, especially due to the need to enable individuals to become fully involved and to enable people to return back into training.

Councillor Door endorsed Mayor Jones’ comments.  She stated that adult education was a very important issue throughout the roles within the local authorities, and was the main sole reason that the MCA was in existence due to the economy and the need for growth.  She supported the proposal outlined within the report.

Councillor Dale queried the funding in relation to the South Yorkshire residents that undertook cross boarder learning into Derbyshire/Nottinghamshire and vice versa.

D Smith referred to the procurement of the grant system.  The South Yorkshire local authorities and colleges would continue to receive a grant allocation.  Independent providers and those outside of the region, would form part of the procurement process to openly bid for contracts in delivery of the adult education system.  Support would be provided to the residents and learners in South Yorkshire, and to ensure that the funding support followed within the contracts entered into with providers from South Yorkshire and beyond the boarders.

Councillor Houghton stated that the immediate challenge was to ensure that the system continued under a new name, to ensure stability.  The challenge in the medium to long term was to begin to consider the system, to ascertain whether it was the correct system and whether it was provided correctly moving forwards.

Councillor Greaves referred to the advancement of the Devolution Bill in relation to South Yorkshire.  North Notts College was managed by the R&M Group with a key base in Worksop.  He was concerned in terms of commissioning arrangements and training provision, as to whether there would be a framework which would result in individuals travelling from South Yorkshire into Worksop, to the disadvantage of the local provision for the North Nottinghamshire area.

D Smith reiterated Councillor Houghton’s comments that the MCA did not envisage to make a radical change, but to devolve the system moving forward to ensure that the interests of all learners were protected, and to enhance the services available within the resources available.  Opportunities for collaborative working would always be sought in the best interests of learners.  The soft lab testing before entering into the formal procurement was to ensure that any issues had been uncovered and addressed through the Skills Board, where a policy position would be adopted in advance of the commencement of a formal procurement.

RESOLVED – That Members:-

i)        Endorsed the areas for the MCA Commissioning Strategy and the proposed Commissioning Approach detailed in section 2.2 of the report.

ii)       Endorsed the Procurement Principles, set out in section 2.4 of the report.

iii)      Noted the approach to Soft Market Testing set out in section 2.5 of the report.

Noted the position regarding Implementation Funding, detailed in section 2.6 of the report.