Decision details

The report details the background to the fees and charging policy, the supporting policy document demonstrating our statutory responsibility to provide a published policy that offers transparency on areas of provision that we make charge for.

That the fee for the Tailored (community) learning be increased from £5.10 (2023/4) per hour to £5.60 per hour (2024/5) and £2.35 (£2.20 22/23) for fee remitted learner, this will be applied through the same funding entitlement and fee remission rules as Accredited Learning.

To approve publication of the fees and charging and associated pound-plus policies.

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 Tailored 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 Finance team have provided information on the scale of inflation applicable to the service
and their estimate is that the composite rate of inflation between 23-24 and 24-25 around
6.0%.