LAST MINUTE U-TURN CAUSES DISTRESS

10.51.13am GMT Fri 16th Dec 2005

Martin Vye drew attention to the threat facing Adult Education courses for people with learning disabilities

At Thursday's meeting of Kent County Council, Martin Vye, Liberal Democrat Member for Canterbury City South West, drew attention to the threat facing Adult Education courses for people with learning disabilities.

Martin said: "There are a number of courses, arts and crafts, cookery, and others which are of great value to people in this vulnerable group. They provide activities, WHICH in many cases LEAD to employment."

"In June KCC said that the funding for Adult Education from the Learning and Skills Council had been reduced, but that courses would not be cut. However, in July the allocation of funding was even worse than expected and action taken to cut services. In early November students and their carers were sent a letter informing them that courses would stop at Christmas."

Martin went on to say: "We have since learnt that the KCC Cabinet has stepped in, under pressure, to provide emergency money to keep these courses going over the next two terms. However, that leaves two questions which I want answered:

(1) Why was it necessary to cause distress to this vulnerable group by announcing the end of courses they value so highly - and then a month later doing a U-turn?

and

(2) Given the cut in external funding what long-term future does KCC plan for these courses?"