Council consultations on adult education changes

Derbyshire County Council is holding a number of consultations on proposals to change the way adult education is delivered in the county.

It comes after the Reform UK-led authority decided to close several adult education centres in the summer as part of a review into the service and added the closures were "based on changing priorities of the funding bodies that pay for our community adult education service".

The Department for Education said most adult education funding had been transferred to the East Midlands Mayoral Strategic Authority.

The council said in-person consultation meetings to make the service "fit for the future" will take place between Monday and 27 January.

The council closed learning centres such as the Eco Centre in Wirksworth, and centres in Alfreton, Ashbourne, Matlock, Shirebrook, Long Eaton and the Toolbox in Glossop in the summer.

The authority has sought to move a number of services away from bricks and mortar bases in recent years. incorporating more home-based models in areas like social care, or deploying more use of digital technology.

Consultations on how adult education services could be "more flexible, responsive and support even more people to gain qualifications to help them achieve", will take place on the following dates:

• Bolsover Adult Education Centre on Monday from 21:30 GMT to 00:30 and 21 January 12:30 to 15:30.
• The Quad, Chesterfield, on Tuesday from 09:30 to 12:30 and 20 January from 12:30 to 15:30.
• Cotmanhay Adult Education Centre on Wednesday between 21:30 to 00:30 and 28 January from 12:30 to 15:30.
• Glossop Adult Education Centre on Tuesday between 12:30 to 15:30 and Wednesday between 21:30 to 00:30.
• Fairfield Adult Education Centre, Buxton, on Thursday between 21:30 to 15:30
• Clay Cross Adult Education Centre on Thursday between 09:30 to 15:30 and 20 January 12:30 to 15:30
• Swadlincote Adult Education Centre on 21 January from 12:30 to 15:30 and 27 January 21:30 to 00:30.

Councillor Simon Mabbott said: "It's really important that we get a range of views to help us shape our services so they are fit for the future.

"I'd like to reassure everyone that no decisions will be made about the future of either of these services until we'd had chance to hear people's views and take these fully in to account."

The consultation runs until midnight on 22 February, said the council.

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