Minutes:
General Question 1 from Councillor Carpenter
“Raising household incomes is one of our top priorities in Barking and Dagenham. To do this, we need to raise the skills levels of our residents. We still fall below national averages for qualifications. Without qualifications it is increasingly difficult for adults to get jobs or better paid work.
However, the Coalition Government has brought in a new arrangement whereby adults over the age of 24 on Level 3 or 4 courses (equivalent to A levels or advanced apprenticeships) can apply for a loan to fund their courses. Although this sounds a good deal for students, there is a sting in the tail for our Adult College and Barking and Dagenham FE College.
Instead of receiving a grant for these courses, it appears that the Colleges will only receive funding for the courses if students draw down the loans. The College budgets are being reduced as a consequence.
What are the financial implications of this change in funding for our Adult College and Barking and Dagenham FE College?
Are there other implications and, if so, what are they?
What are the two Colleges doing to tackle the problems arising?”
Councillor J White, Cabinet Member for Children’s Services responded that:
Councillor Carpenter is right that this new arrangement for funding learning for adults over the age of 24 will have to be watched very carefully. The immediate financial impact of the change is that the Adult College budget has been reduced by almost £99,000 and Barking College by £1.2m for the 2013/14 academic year.
The Government’s expectation is that students will either have to pay the fees themselves or take out a loan. Students will not have to pay the fees up front and will only start to pay back if and when they earn over £21k per annum. There is no age limit and for some low paid workers this may mean they will never have to repay the loan.
As was stated in the question this is a new policy and we do not know what the impact will be. We are concerned that there will be fewer students on level 3 courses as a consequence. We are particularly concerned that adults with families to support may not want to burden the family with additional debt.
In a Borough with high levels of NEETs and low levels of adult attainment, this is a very unhelpful approach, which is unlikely to help our work with adults to acquire the skills they need for employment.
So what are the Colleges doing? Both have been supporting the national campaign to make the Government aware of the risks. Both have discussed this with their Governing Bodies and are raising awareness with students. Our focus now has to be giving good and accurate advice to those considering courses to help minimise potential risks and we are putting together a briefing pack for use in colleges, children’s centres and by staff supporting adults into employment and training so that they are able to provide appropriate and helpful advice.
In conclusion, this is yet another nasty measure of this coalition Government targeting the poorer members of our community.
General Question 2 from Councillor McKenzie
In view of the disturbing news sweeping the country about horse meat, what measures are being taken by our Trading Standards Officers to ensure that horse meat is not entering the food chain in Barking and Dagenham?
Can you reassure our residents that we are first post the post in tackling this serious food crime problem?”
Councillor J Alexander, Cabinet Member for Crime, Justice and Communities responded that:
Following the announcement about the potential contamination of certain food products with horsemeat the Council took immediate steps to ensure the safety and welfare of children, vulnerable people and customers. Precautionary measures were taken to withdraw meals containing processed beef from menus immediately and check that suppliers could trace and authenticate the sources of their products.
The Council will not be relaxing its controls for the present and will continue to take any further steps we think are necessary to ensure the food served to children, vulnerable people and the general public is free from contamination.
In conclusion the Government has been criticised for being slow to react to the horsemeat scandal and advice to consumers has been limited. The Council has been proactive in taking sensible precautions in the light of the scandal. We would like to reassure residents and customers alike, that we will continue to take all necessary steps to make sure that the food we serve is safe and does not contain horsemeat.
The meeting closed at 8.21 pm.