Agenda item

Report for consideration by the Combined Authority Committee..

The West of England Combined Authority Committee RESOLVED to approve:

1. The proposed approach for the management and administration of devolved AEB for the 2021/22 academic year.

2. The following delegations to the WECA Chief Executive in consultation with the Chief Executives of the constituent councils:

a. To make decisions on the final approach for the 2021/22 academic year once the consultation results have been considered.

b. To make decisions on final provider allocations once agreed provider curriculum delivery plans are in place.

c. To make in-year exceptions funding decisions.

d. To make in-year growth funding decisions.

e. To make decisions on provider re-allocations at all operational points including: in-year, mid-year and end-of-year.

f. To make decisions relating to distribution of funding for continuing learners.

g. To make decisions on the purpose and allocation of funds not distributed through the CDP process or funds used for the management and administration of devolved AEB.

h. To make decisions on recommended amendments to the devolved approach for AEB in subsequent academic years.

The Combined Authority Committee considered a report seeking approval of the proposed approach for the management and administration of the devolved Adult Education Budget for the 2021/22 academic year (agenda item 16).

The Chair highlighted that the overall aim of this report was to orientate the local Adult Education system so that it was focused on and responsive to the specific needs of the region’s residents, communities, employers and the local economy as a whole.

The recommendations as set out in the published report were then moved by the Chair and seconded by Cllr Romero.

Cllr Romero welcomed the report and commented that a real advantage of the Combined Authority was the opportunity to increase investment in skills, together with the ability to react quickly in such changing and challenging times, to the region’s advantage.

Cllr Savage also welcomed the report, stressing that all members were aware of how challenging the current situation was for the regional economy and the impact for those people who had been losing their jobs.  This was a really important area of work for the Combined Authority in helping people back into work, helping them to reskill, particularly in those industries of the future, and those linked to the region’s transition to net zero carbon.

Mayor Rees commented that it had been an incredibly difficult time economically, therefore making opportunities for reskilling available to people was going to be significant, not just for the functioning of the economy but also for the health and mental health of those people who will continue to need something constructive in their lives and some structure to sustain their lives.  He also particularly welcomed the support for the Bristol Learning Centre service. In the challenging time ahead, it was important to maximise the effectiveness of the provider base in helping to consolidate and provide stability in the region’s skills offer.

Professor West commented the report was very welcome; in his view, the only way that we stood a chance of being able to help people is if we have a really strong ‘eco-system’ around skills with schools, colleges, universities working together to create the opportunities with business. He felt there was a piece of key work that had to be done, which was a needs analysis, to help give clarity about where there are job opportunities, what jobs we are trying to attract into the region and what is the best way of reskilling people as they potentially lose jobs. Partnership and collaboration in the provider base were also absolutely key.

Cllr Davies commented that he was extremely supportive of Weston College, who did a wonderful job but of course were denied any access to this funding because North Somerset was not part of WECA.

The Chair then moved to the voting on the recommendations. Voting took place as per constitutional requirements.

The West of England Combined Authority Committee RESOLVED to approve:

1. The proposed approach for the management and administration of devolved AEB for the 2021/22 academic year.

2. The following delegations to the WECA Chief Executive in consultation with the Chief Executives of the constituent councils:

a. To make decisions on the final approach for the 2021/22 academic year once the consultation results have been considered.

b. To make decisions on final provider allocations once agreed provider curriculum delivery plans are in place.

c. To make in-year exceptions funding decisions.

d. To make in-year growth funding decisions.

e. To make decisions on provider re-allocations at all operational points including: in-year, mid-year and end-of-year.

f. To make decisions relating to distribution of funding for continuing learners.

g. To make decisions on the purpose and allocation of funds not distributed through the CDP process or funds used for the management and administration of devolved AEB.

h. To make decisions on recommended amendments to the devolved approach for AEB in subsequent academic years.