Decision details

To authorise the award of framework call-off contracts with a total value of £1.6m for the delivery of adult skills provision in the 2016/17 academic year.

The Director of Children’s Services approved:

·  The proposed funding allocations for external delivery of the Council’s Adult Learning Programme to the total value of £1.6 million for the 2016-17 academic year, and authorise Year 3 call-off contracts to 23 providers on the Adult Learning Framework 2014-17, as set out in the Confidential Appendix 1.

·  Changes to the Council’s provision to comply with the new SFA Conditions of Grant Funding, including reduction of the minimum course length from 6 to 2 hours, an increase in class size from 6 to 8 learners and retention of records until 2030.

·  Changes to the project brief to ensure continued alignment with Council policy and priorities. This includes an increase in payment for Learning Support Assistants to reflect the West Yorkshire Combined Authority’s Low Pay Charter, which committed the council to pay the equivalent hourly rate set by the Living Wage Foundation’s Campaign for Living Wages; a revision to priority areas to reflect the 2015 Indices of Deprivation; and an increase in allocation of funding activities under Skills for Jobs by £150,000.

·  The recommended maximum funding allocations set out in the Confidential Appendix 1 allowing individual provider allocations to be varied in accordance with Contract Procedure Rules to enable effective programme management to maximise delivery outcomes.

The 3 year framework and the programme for the academic year to deliver the Skills Funding Agency contract obligations are informed by continuous stakeholder engagement. This includes oversight by the Executive Member for Employment, Enterprise & Opportunity; consultation with the Community Learning Trust Board, Community Committee Champions; feedback from providers and learners.

The Procurement Solicitor and Finance Manager will be consulted on the 2016/17 SFA contract terms and implications for provider call-off contracts and funding allocations.

The Executive Member for Employment, Enterprise and Opportunity

CPPU Procurement and Legal Services

Community Learning Providers

Leeds Community Learning Trust Board

Service Users