A report on Adult
Education Budget (AEB) Performance and the approach to provider
allocations was presented.
The report gave
updates and proposals on:
- Actions approved relating to 2021/22
performance, including agreements made regarding under and over
performance,
- A performance update for
2022/23, noting an improving trend in performance from 21/22,
- An update on Free Courses
for Jobs which showed that delivery
was likely to be on track in meeting the value of the funds
allocated out in 2022/23,
- An update on Test & Learn Initiatives
previously approved by the Board, noting that initiatives would be
evaluated and successful measures may be recommended for
continuation in future years,
- Further
detail on the operation of the AEB Innovation Fund, including the
allocation of an additional £1m in 2023/24, and the
delegation of funding awards to be made by the Corporate Director
of Growth Business & Skills on behalf of the ESE
Board,
- An update on the
commissioning approach for provision for 2023/24,
- Indicative grant
allocations for 2023/24, which would be discussed with providers to
determine final grant allocations to recommend for approval by the
MCA Board,
- An award to an
additional grant provider to meet travel-to-learn challenges around
the South Yorkshire border,
- Provisions to manage
over performance in 2023/24, including to increase contract values
where appropriate,
- An update on the
intent to review the current AEB Procurement Framework,
- Free Courses for Jobs
Allocations for grant providers for 2023/24 and a procurement
exercise for Free Courses For Jobs until the end of July
2025,
- Proposed performance review points for
2023/24,
- Consideration of the implementation of the Department
for Education Accountability Agreement,
- Changes to data collection on community learning
provision to increase clarity.
It was noted that
not all AEB funding had been allocated for 2023/24, leaving
flexibility to be responsive to new opportunities and
needs.
Questions were
raised by Board members regarding measuring under performance, and
capacity at the MCA to work closely with providers to support them
in cases of underperformance. It was confirmed that additional
staffing and an internal reorganisation of contract management
expertise at the MCA would ensure that this function could be
adequately supported.
RESOLVED:
That the Board:
- Approved the
approach to calculating and sharing indicative allocations and for
discussions with providers to inform allocations and delivery
plans, and delegated authority for the Corporate Director of
Growth, Business and Skills to agree increases to grant provider
allocations and endorsed the approach to recommending final
allocations to the June MCA Board as set out in paragraph 2.7.
- Endorsed the
proposed approach to issue new contracts where delivery has been
strong in previous years and authorise the Corporate Director of
Growth, Business and Skills to negotiate increases to procured
provision contracts, and endorsed the approach to recommending
contract awards to the June MCA Board as set out in paragraph
2.9.
- Approved the
approach to allocation Free Courses for Jobs funding to grant
providers based on expected delivery and endorsed a procurement
exercise for Free Courses for Jobs for progression to MCA Board as
set out in paragraph 2.11.
- Approved the
allocation of £1m of AEB funds to support the use of the AEB
Innovation fund and delegate authority to the S73 Officer in
conjunction with the Corporate Director of Growth, Business and
Skills and the Monitoring Officer to approve and enter into
subsequent legal agreements with providers in respect of the AEB
Innovation Fund as set out in paragraph 2.5.
- Approved the
proposed AEB commissioning approach for 2023/24 as set out in
paragraph 2.6.
- Approved a grant
award to Chesterfield College in 2022/23 and in 2023/24 and
approved entering into a legal agreement subject to the acceptance
of the business case as set out in paragraph 2.8.
- Approved the
approach to contracting for contracted provision as set out
paragraph 2.9.
- Approved the
approach to allocate Free Courses for Jobs funding to grant
providers based on expected delivery as set out in paragraph
2.11.
- Approved the
performance management approach proposed for 2023/24 as set out in
paragraph 2.12.
Approved the implementation of the new data
reporting arrangements on a voluntary basis for Community Learning
for 2023/24 as set out in paragraph 2.14.