REPORT TO TRAINING SUB COMMITTEE
MEETING ON WEDNESDAY 4TH NOVEMBER 1998
SUBJECT
PREVIOUS REFERENCE - TRAINING SUB COMMITTEE-MINUTE 17 (1998/99)
SUMMARY STATEMENT
MATTER FOR CONSIDERATION
This report is presented to Members under Standing Order Cl 5(f) and reports on a decision taken by the Strategic Director using delegated powers under Standing Order Cl 5(a) to close the Training Centre at Metrochange House.
Contact: Terry Davis Tel: 754637, Fax:720513
Strategic Director: David Kennedy Tel: 752582, Fax:395684
Report to Training Sub-Committee-4th November 1998
Previous Reference Training Sub Committee-minute 17 (1998199)
Reports to the Regeneration Committee (1.7.98) and the Training Sub Committee (29.9.98) outlined the position with regard to NVQ irregularities in the Adult and Youth Training Section. Details were given of the investigations being carried out by the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority (QCA), Internal Auditors and Awarding Bodies.
Where action is taken by an Officer using delegated powers contained in Standing Orders, it is necessary under Standing Order Cl 5(f) to report this action to the appropriate Committee or Sub Committee.
2.1 The report to Training Sub-Committee on 29.9.98 gave details of the reapproval, received from LCCI, which enabled NVQ delivery to resume at Metrochange House. The re-approval was subject to staff training from LCCI who also undertook to carry out a training needs analysis with the training staff. LCCI subsequently wrote to us, identifying major problems. They proposed that they work closely with. us to remedy the situation. LCCI stated that there was no overnight solution to the problems, and that they proposed to work with us over an unspecified period of time in order to address the problems they had identified.
It became apparent that yet more delay and disruption would inevitably be suffered by the 84 trainees who were currently training at Metrochange House. With the welfare of these trainees in mind, the Strategic Director, using delegated powers under Standing Order C15, took the decision to close the Training Centre at Metrochange House.
Arrangements are being put into place to find alternative training providers for the trainees affected by the closure of Metrochange House. We are working closely with Bradford and District Tec, who are arranging to place the trainees with a suitable training provider as quickly as possible, and with minimum disruption.
Arrangements are being made to redeploy staff affected by the closure of Metrochange House. Full consultation is ongoing with the Trade Unions, and the Severance and Redeployment Group.
Dialogue is continuing with Awarding Bodies responsible for NVQ's in other Training Centres. However, we have still not received formal feedback from investigations carried out at Bradford 1TeC, Mitre Court or Keighley Training Group.
The internal Audit Section is continuing its investigation.
It is still not possible to put a figure on the financial effect of these problems at present.
It is recommended that members note the decision taken by the Strategic Director, using delegated powers under standing Order C15, to close the Training Centre at Metrochange House.