Decision details

To present the Adult Learning and Skills Service Fee Policy statement and agree an increase the fees for Adult Learning Courses by 6%, in line with the Council policy. Please note this will affect a few courses as most of our learners are fully funded and do not pay for their learning. Along with their legal entitlement of English, Maths and Digital skills which are free.

That the fee for the community learning be increased from £4.80 (2022/23) per hour to £5.10 per hour (2023/24) and £2.20 (£2.00 22/23) for fee remitted learner, this will be applied through the same funding
entitlement and fee remission rules as Accredited Learning.

Fee levels are reviewed annually in line with the Council’s Fees and Charges Strategy.

All the funding received for the Adult Learning and Skills Service is allocated by central Government via the Education and Skills Funding Agency (ESFA) to fund and support learning for adults aged 19+. All costs associated with the delivery of learning (including all staffing costs) are covered by the ring fenced external budgets.

The Service offers a small amount but growing provision through the Community Learning funding to enable learners to join learning activities for their own enjoyment and to learn, socialise with others or improve skills. This is mainly offered through the Arts and Crafts programmes but there are other offers in the curriculum.
The scale of inflation applicable to the service and their estimate is that the composite rate of inflation between 22-23 and 23-24 is 6.0%. it is proposed to increase the fee for Community Learning from £4.80 per hour in 2032 to £5.10 per hour (an increase of 6.3%)

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