Five adult education centres are closed without consultation

REPORT SAYS MOVE WILL AFFECT 1,337 LEARNERS

- By EDDIE BISKNELL Local democracy reporter

THE Reform-run Derbyshire County Council is closing five adult education centres without any public consultation following a private meeting.

Cllr Jack Bradley, Reform’s cabinet member for education, has unilaterally decided at a closed-doors meeting to shut five adult community education centres in Ashbourne, Matlock, Middleton-by-Wirksworth, Shirebrook and Long Eaton.

This comes two months after Cllr Bradley - who was elected on the principle of openness and transparency - also opted to close two centres in Alfreton and Glossop, also without public or user consultation.

A county council report says the five further centres will close from September with no consultation planned.

This would leave the authority with eight adult community education centres in Bolsover, Buxton, Chesterfield, Clay Cross, Cotmanhay, Glossop, Holmewood and Swadlincote.

A council report says the closures will affect 1,337 “learners” and that the overall cost of the five centres was £1.044 million, averaging £1,050 per learner.

The cost per learner ranged drastically between centres, with the Eco Centre in Middleton-by-Wirksworth costing £498 per learner and £1,462 in Long Eaton. Meanwhile, the cost of the whole adult community education centre service costs £4.36 million and supports 5,973 learners with an average cost per learner of £731.