Purpose

To seek approval to enter into a funding agreement with the Department for Education to support the delivery of Tailored Learning and the Adult Skills Programme for the 2026–2027 academic year, and to procure and award contracts for the provision of adult learning services.

Decision

Cllr Linda Cohen, sought Cabinet delegated authority to enter into a funding agreement with the Department for Education (DfE) for the purpose of funding the delivery of Tailored Learning and the Adult Skills Programme during the 2026-2027 academic year and then to procure and award a number of contracts for the provision of adult learning services.

Having considered all of the information, Cabinet noted the report and

RESOLVED to:

Delegate authority to the Executive Director of Economy, Environment and Infrastructure, in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Education and Skills, to:

• Enter into a funding agreement with the Department for Education (DfE) under which the Council shall receive £2,734,701 to fund the delivery of Tailored Learning and Adult Skills Programmes during the 2026–2027 academic year.

• Conduct a light-touch competitive open procurement under the Procurement Act 2023, structured into lots as appropriate, to secure a number of contracts for the provision of adult learning and skills services funded through the DfE, including (but not limited to):

o First Steps provision

o Employability provision

o Adults with Learning Disabilities and/or Difficulties (ALDD) provision

o Local Flex provision (responding to identified and emerging local training needs).

• Award the resulting contracts to the relevant preferred tenderer(s), with each contract being for an initial period of up to 12 months.

• Determine whether to exercise the option to extend each of the contracts for a further period of up to 12 months on the expiry of their initial term (or any subsequent extension), for a maximum contract duration of three years (1+1+1), subject to satisfactory performance and confirmation of DfE funding for the relevant academic year.