London Councils responses to recent government consultations and select committee inquiries on the skills agenda
Draft Skills for Londoners Framework
As part of the preperation for the proposed delegation of the Adult Education Budget (AEB) to the Mayor of London in 2019-20, the GLA published their draft Skills for Londoners Framework for consultation. It outlines how the Mayor will support delivery of the of the objectives in the Skills for Londoners Strategy, published in June 2018. It sets out the implementation plans for the AEB, as well as European Social Fund (ESF) and the Skills for Londoners Capital Fund.
London Councils responded calling for the GLA to continue to work closely with boroughs and sub-regional partnerships on preparing for the devolved AEB, using the opportunity to shape a skills system responsive to local needs and opportunities.
The government issued a call for evidence on the effectiveness of the Construction, and Engineering Construction, Industrial Training Boards (CITB and ECITB) in February 2017. London Councils responded calling for the CITB to play a more strategic role and for the CITB Levy to be reformed to complement the new apprenticeship levy.
The House of Commons Sub-Committee on Education, Skills and the Economy conducted an inquiry into the Area-based Review process of Post-16 provision. London's Area Review was still going on, so London Councils' response represents a snapshot of our view of the process at that point (October 2016).
Developing an Insolvency Regime for Further Education and Sixth Form Colleges
The government ran a short consultation on their plans for developing an insolvency regime for further education and sixth form colleges in July and August 2016. London Councils' response called for the proposed system to include greater consultation with local government and for greater clarity around protections for students.