Decision details

The Service Director, Community Services provided Members with information in relation to the future of Adult Community Learning.

Due to a number of significant changes to the funding and delivery of community based adult learning over the coming years, the officer advised that there was an opportunity to review the current County specific partnership model in Rhondda Cynon Taf and to explore the potential of developing a wider Cwm Taf Morgannwg Adult Community Learning Partnership with colleagues in adjoining Counties.

The Service Director explained that cross-boundary Adult Community Learning Partnerships were now the norm in Wales as they can offer significant advantages to learners and economies of scale to the organisations involved in delivery. An example given was the 5 Counties of the former Gwent have pooled all resources to a central pot and the partnership is administered by the local FE institution (Coleg Gwent).

Members were referred to Section 5 of the report, where the potential benefits and potential risks of a partnership approach were outlined for their consideration. 

The Cabinet Member for Education and Inclusion Services questioned if RCT had the capacity to take a potential partnership forward and the Service Director advised that the initial step would be thorough discussions with Merthyr Tydfil and Bridgend Councils to ensure resources can be pooled together and that there is an understanding of the challenges.

The Leader and Deputy Leader agreed that it was a great initiative but placed emphasis on the need for all the Local Authorities to show commitment and to be mindful of their capacity, before reporting back to a future meeting of the Cabinet.

The Cabinet RESOLVED:

1.    To approve the initiation of discussions with Merthyr CBC and Bridgend CBC for the establishment of a Cwm Taf Morgannwg Adult Community Learning Partnership by September 2020.