The Cabinet of Gloucestershire County Council met on Wednesday 20 May 2026 to discuss and approve funding for adult education programmes and substance use services. Key decisions included the allocation of over £2.7 million for the Tailored Learning and Adult Skills Programme for the 2026-2027 academic year and the approval of significant funding for drug and alcohol treatment and recovery services for the period 2026-2029.

Tailored Learning and Adult Skills Programme for 2026/2027

The Cabinet approved the delegation of 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). This agreement will secure £2,734,701 to fund the delivery of Tailored Learning and Adult Skills Programmes during the 2026–2027 academic year. Furthermore, the council will conduct a light-touch competitive open procurement process to award contracts for the provision of these adult learning and skills services. These services will include First Steps provision, Employability provision, Adults with Learning Disabilities and/or Difficulties (ALDD) provision, and Local Flex provision, which responds to identified and emerging local training needs. Contracts will have an initial period of up to 12 months, with the option to extend for a further 12 months, for a maximum duration of three years, subject to satisfactory performance and continued DfE funding. This initiative aligns with the council's commitment to economic growth and improving life chances by providing adults with essential skills and qualifications.

Allocation of Substance Use Grant Funding (Public Health Grant) 2026-2029

Cabinet approved the allocation of the ringfenced substance use element of the Public Health Grant for the period 2026–2029, which will enable the continuation and enhancement of drug and alcohol treatment and recovery services across Gloucestershire. This decision supports the national ambition to increase the number of people in treatment and improve outcomes for those with substance use disorders.

Key aspects of the approved allocation include:

• A modification to the existing contract with Via Care Ltd, the council's drug and alcohol treatment provider. This modification will fund additional evidence-based interventions and, from October 2026 to March 2029, will provide a specialist nursing post and a recovery worker post to support individuals who are rough sleeping, including associated medication and rehabilitation services.
• An allocation of £162,440 from the Drug and Alcohol Treatment and Recovery Improvement Grant (DATRIG) to the council's Youth Support Service. This funding will enable the continuation of an additional staff member to expand access to young people's substance misuse services.
• An allocation of £495,751 from the Independent Placement Support (IPS) grant to the Gloucestershire County Council Employment and Skills Hub. This funding will support individuals with substance use disorders in securing and sustaining employment.

These allocations are part of a broader £5,919,725 in supplemental substance use grant funding from the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) over the three-year period, which is consolidated into the Public Health Grant. The plan was developed in collaboration with various stakeholders, including the Gloucestershire Combating Drugs Partnership (CDP), the Office of Health Improvement and Disparities (OHID), Via Care Ltd, and representatives from lived experience groups. The council's commitment to social value is embedded in these services, with a focus on supporting residents and communities and providing opportunities for volunteering and employment for those in recovery.

The decisions made are subject to a call-in procedure, where a decision may be challenged if it conflicts with existing policy, is not in accordance with the council's budget, or if irrelevant matters were considered or relevant matters were not considered. Any request for a call-in must be made by at least five members of the council by 5 pm on 28 May 2026.