Purpose

This Order will amend the existing
education-related statutory instrument for each Combined Authority
to add the further funding power enabling combined authorities to
fund new, high-quality technical qualifications alongside others
already available to them.

A public consultation and an assessment of burdens has been
undertaken by the Department for Education, which concluded that
this will not place any additional burdens on combined
authorities.

The proposed Order will not require the Combined Authority to
change the way it operates, it will merely give the power to fund
the new technical qualifications, alongside other qualifications
that are already available to it, if it wants to.

Qualifications are withdrawn and approved frequently, so the list
of qualifications from which combined authorities can select is not
static. Commissioning officers and providers already have processes
in place to manage changes to the qualifications landscape and
decide which ones are most appropriate for adults in their
areas.

This Order will ensure that adult learners in the area will have
access to the same high-quality technical qualifications as those
in other devolved, and non-devolved, areas.

There will be minimal operational impact from this proposal, whilst
continuing to ensure that adult learners in the area will have
access to the same high-quality technical qualifications as those
in other devolved, and non-devolved, areas.

Unanimous approval of all five West Yorkshire councils is required
for this matter to proceed, and Government has indicated its intent
to enact the Order in time for the 2025/26 academic year.

As such should the Council not consent to the Order this would
limit the access of adult learners from across the region to the
latest, most current and occupationally relevant qualifications
that learners in the rest of the country would have access
to.

This decision cannot be deferred to the scheduled Executive meeting
in June, and any delay caused by the call-in process would risk
prejudice to the Council’s interests (and those of the
combined authority and constituent councils).

Content

That the Council gives consent to the
Department for Education’s creation of a statutory instrument
conferring additional funding powers for adult education functions
to established Combined Authorities.

Alternative options considered

Option 1 - To consent to the making of this
Order.
Option 2 - To not consent to the making of this Order.