Decision details

To request support for the submission of a business case to Department of Education
(DfE) for capacity funding to support the implementation stage prior to devolution of the Adult Education Budget (AEB).

To approve the submission of a business case to Department of Education (DfE) for capacity funding to support the implementation stage prior to devolution of the Adult Education Budget (AEB) of £490K.

The Adult Education Budget (AEB) is a key commitment of York & North Yorkshire from the devolution deal with the Combined Authority taking responsibility for the AEB commencing August 2025.

The submission of the business case to DfE will enable capacity funding to be drawn from DfE to support the implementation stage of the devolution of the AEB. Without funding from DfE the Combined Authority, City of York and North Yorkshire Councils will need to fund the implementation costs from existing budgets and staffing, creating both financial and capacity issues.

**Rule 16 special urgency procedure applies – call in exemption granted

Nil however should external capacity funding not be secured, the cost of meeting the commitments within the deal will fall upon the constituent councils and Combined Authority, once created. If insufficient resources are identified there is a risk that readiness conditions will not be met and the Combined Authority will not be in a position to manage the AEB as of August 2025.