Agenda item

A report was submitted which provided the Board with an update on the commissioning process for devolved Adult Education Budget (AEB) funded learning.

It was noted that, as of 1^st August 2021, the AEB was devolved for South Yorkshire residents.  A total of £30.6m had been committed through grants to South Yorkshire based FE Colleges and local authority providers and contracts for provision worth £10.2m had been let for procured provision.  All grant agreements and contracts had been issued and the initial commissioning phase was complete.

The Board was informed that more work would need to be done to analyse data on performance as the academic year got underway but there was some positive messages emerging from analysis of delivery plans which showed a shift in provision consistent with the Authority’s priorities.  Examples of these was contained within the report.

Members noted that the process of commissioning devolved AEB had had an impact on the pre-devolution provider base and this had resulted in representation being made to the Mayor, MPs and members of the ESE Board about the outcomes of the procurement exercise.  Devolution was the catalyst for change in approach and outcomes and some degree of disruption was an inevitable consequence.

Where disruption was unavoidable the challenge was to ensure the disruption was explained, justified by the outcomes and mitigated.  Officers were working with local authorities to maximise the benefits of the provision that had been commissioned and to develop signposting to help new learners and others to find new programmes.

As the initial commissioning process was over, the Mayor had requested that a ‘Lessons Learned’ exercise be carried out.  This would be done in the autumn and a progress report would be brought to the Board in October.

The Board was informed that following the allocation of the grant funding and the end of the procurement exercise the Authority had approximately £400k AEB unallocated.  It was proposed that an analysis of gaps in skills and employability provision was carried out to inform the approach to allocating the remaining funds.  A report would be brought to the October meeting of the Board.

Cllr Turpin commented that whilst it was agreed that there was a need for progression of learning pathways, it was still important to keep the non-regulated pathways open for the most vulnerable and excluded people and expressed concern that left-behind people may face further barriers to progression.

R Harvey replied that the MCA shared those concerns and wanted to ensure that community-based provision remained available.  It was felt that the delivery procured through the commissioning process would still be in place and the key initial rungs on the learning ladder would still be available.

Cllr Turpin commented that the impact of the slow process and delays had made the situation difficult in Sheffield.  Information on the final tender process had not been received until July which had put a lot of pressure on officers and had left no time to consult with communities.  He also expressed disappointment with the loss of funding to the WEA and felt that removing that funding and providing funding to out of town organisations would lead to a competitive market which would cause problems for the community provision organisations.

R Harvey replied that MCA officers had worked with grant holders for more than a year so organisations could have had conversations with potential partners about what their supply chains looked like.

All nine grant holders had been involved in discussions around what the grant would look like and what it would buy.  Alongside the grant process there had also been a procurement process which was open to providers across the country and was judged on the merit of the service provided.

In terms of the grant holders and their supply chains, it was entirely up to them to decide who to bring in to provide the best service for their learners.

Cllrs Lelliott and Cheetham felt that the process had worked well in Doncaster and Barnsley and that fair, open and transparent process had been undertaken.

Cllr Turpin provided suggested questions regarding the lessons learned.

RESOLVED – That the Board:

i)         Note the positive changes in the balance of provision across South Yorkshire that was expected to come out of the devolved approach.

ii)        Note the steps being taken in conjunction with local authorities to stimulate collaboration between providers and accountability for delivering in a place.

iii)       Note the need to step up transition arrangements to support learners.

iv)       Note the proposal for a ‘Lessons Learned’ exercise.

v)       Approve the approach to undertake an analysis of any gaps in skills and employability provision to inform and develop proposals to make full use of AEB and maximise provision for residents.