Croydon’s failed Mayor, embarrassed by having his secret plans to axe the council’s adult education programme exposed, has issued a belated explanation to councillors. EXCLUSIVE by STEVEN DOWNES
After months of secrecy and suspicion, Jason Perry, Croydon’s failed Mayor, has finally issued a statement to the borough’s elected councillors about the fate of CALAT, Croydon’s long-standing and widely admired adult education service.
Perry was forced into offering some kind of explanation by this website’s exclusive report earlier this week, which revealed the Mayor’s intention to outsource adult education – that is, cut costs – while forcing CALAT out of its home base in the Croydon Clocktower.
Inside Croydon has obtained a copy of piss-poor Perry’s email to councillors sent on Thursday. It begins with the heading: “Looking to the future of adult learning in Croydon”. It appeared as if it had been drafted by AI.
Note the studied avoidance of mentioning CALAT at the beginning of Perry’s email.
There’s no denial of the closure, either. Just as he did when closing four public libraries or outsourcing the council’s services for carers, Perry is seeking to cut corners, and cut costs, by hollowing out another well-respected council service.
Perry wrote: “Croydon is growing and changing, and so are the skills residents need to succeed. New industries, changing employer demands and advances in technology mean adult learning must continue to evolve.”
One CALAT staffer has told Inside Croydon that while employees’ morale was already at rock bottom, Perry’s statement has made a bad situation worse. “Patronising, or what? CALAT’s syllabus has been constantly evolving and up-dating every year. That’s no reason to outsource the service.”
Perry’s note continued: “Public funding for adult education is also increasingly focused on helping people progress into employment, further study and better-paid jobs. As part of our work to support the council’s priorities and long-term financial sustainability, we are reviewing the future of Croydon Adult Learning and Training (CALAT) to ensure it continues to deliver the greatest benefit for residents and communities.”
Perry’s announcement of a “review” only comes after CALAT has already been told it is being forced out of its Croydon Clocktower base. There has been no discussion or debate of the need for such a change at council meetings. “You normally make the changes after having considered the findings of a review, not before the review is conducted,” the CALAT staffer said.
“This is an outright admission that this whole exercise is a foregone conclusion.”
Perry writes: “For many years, CALAT has helped thousands of residents improve their English, gain qualifications, develop skills and build confidence. We are proud of that legacy and remain committed to ensuring adult learning continues to support residents throughout their lives.
“However, resident and employer needs have changed. There is growing demand for digital, technical and employability skills, alongside more flexible learning opportunities that lead directly to employment, career progression or further study.”
CALAT, if Perry or his staff had bothered to check, offers more than 500 courses each year, among them digital skills and up-skilling lessons and qualifications in conjunction with employers.
“We are exploring options for a financially sustainable adult learning service that responds to these changing needs and helps more residents achieve positive outcomes.”
This is where Perry really does earn his dunce’s hat.
The majority of CALAT’s funding comes from external grants, not from Council Tax. CALAT receives grants from the Greater London Authority and the Education and Skills Funding Agency. Plus, it receives thousands of pounds in fees from its students, who pay up to £600 each for a typical 12-week course. CALAT also receives payments for room lettings and commercial training partnerships.
When Croydon last considered outsourcing the service, they found that CALAT contributes roughly £500,000 per year to the council to cover shared corporate overheads (such as HR, legal and IT systems).
Only very recently has CALAT come under budget pressures caused by an unbudgeted internal council property service charges, resulting in a £200,000 overspend – the equivalent of two years’ pay for Mayor Perry.
“Our aim is to strengthen opportunities for residents and businesses by providing greater choice, flexible ways to learn and stronger links to employers and training partners,” Perry says.
The “flexible ways to learn” line is the giveaway about what lies behind Perry’s plan: he wants to switch to a lower-cost, remote-learning system, which could potentially see hundreds of CALAT teachers’ jobs axed.
And then Perry produced the usual old flannel: “We remain committed to supporting those who need us most, including people learning English, adults with additional learning needs, parents returning to work, people looking to retrain, and those who have been out of employment for some time.”
Under a heading “Reviewing our current CALAT service and review timetable”, Perry put this forward: “We are now working with independent agency Mime, to carry out a review of our CALAT service and to provide recommendations on options for the future of the service.
“The review will take place between 3 August and 18 September.” Thus Perry is informing our elected councillors more than a month after he commissioned his time-and-motion people.
Notice to quit: despite contributing to the council’s income streams, CALAT is being forced out of its home next to the Town Hall
“Once complete, Mime will provide an evidence-based assessment of the service, and all options, including risks and mitigations, for a future model.
“Any proposals arising from the independent review for the future delivery model for CALAT will be considered through the council’s established governance and decision-making processes,” said Perry, in the certain knowledge that he – or the bean-counter officials who are really running the council – have already determined the doom of CALAT.
“The options and recommendations for a future model will be presented to cabinet in October, where a decision will be made on the next steps.
“We recognise the importance of involving staff, learners, trade unions and key partners throughout this process.” Bit late now, though.
“As the review progresses, staff and recognised trade unions will be kept informed of developments and engaged on emerging proposals. Once the independent review has been completed and any preferred options have been identified, we will undertake appropriate consultation and engagement before any final decisions on the new model are made.” Cart, horse, etc.
“Feedback received through this process will be considered as part of the decision-making process and alongside the findings of the independent review, financial considerations, risks, and the council’s statutory responsibilities.”
It was only at this stage of his email that Perry addressed how his council has already started to impact on CALAT’s work, by kicking them out of the Clocktower.
“During October, we will relocate the majority of CALAT classes from Croydon Clocktower to Strand House in Thornton Heath. A smaller teaching footprint will be retained in central Croydon to support the delivery of key courses that require a central location and to maintain accessibility for learners.
“We are working closely with colleagues in facilities management and Croydon digital services to plan the move and make sure that Strand House is ready to accommodate courses. We will keep all learners informed of the new locations for their classes and will review course timetables to allow sufficient travel time between venues where required.”
CALAT staff and their unions are currently conducting their own review – of how to challenge Perry’s pre-ordained decisions and to axe a service which contributes £500,000 per year to the cash-strapped council’s budgets.
Read more: After closing libraries, now Philistine Perry takes axe to CALAT
Read more: Booked! Mayor Perry deceives over destruction of library stock
Read more: Perry admits he has no idea when work will start on Purley Pool
Read more: Perry drives a black cab through council’s consultation rules
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What is not being considered is the 100s of purple with additional needs/ learning disabilities who attend to learn independent living skills, become part of a community, have opportunities to do things they love – dancing, art, music, drama. This is not just about the job market. I worked as a tutor for many years in the ALDD (Adults with Learning disabilities and difficulties) and the joy that attending gave to so many people from 16 to 80+ years old was so wonderful to see. Their families came to their concerts, award ceremonies. CALAT has been watered down over the last 10 years or more and the impact has been clear (as someone who works with parent carers of those with LD/autism/pan-disabilities) to see. Perry is removing opportunity and not considering that many people use it as a means to a social life, friendship, independence and opportunity. Many will not be able to do this “remotely.” I’m really angry at the choices being made on behalf of people he hasn’t even thought about when making his decisions.
Perry views CALAT purely in terms of its economic value, its value and importance to employers as a skills training vehicle. Yet for years it’s offered people in our borough something beyond cold economic indicators – it’s offered the chance to expand our horizons and find joy through great quality and value lessons in a range of artistic and cultural pursuits. Taking the axe to that is pure vandalism and is just a further example of how he and his administration are running down our town and making it an increasingly grim and joyless place.
WTF are “Mime” ? Probably expensive external consultants that Piss-Poor will spend more money on than would ever be saved by axing CALAT ? Croydon’s failed mayor is Piss-poor by name, and piss-poor by nature, as ever !
How can the local community make their views known on this?
Ask Mayor Perry… oh, no, forgot. He’s not bothering with a public consultation. Silly us!
We have a Mayor who many would liken to a deceitful ,destructive, imbecilic child that has gone completely out of control.
But that would be wrong – it would assume a lack of thought or purpose.
No this is done with meticulous thought purpose and consideration.
What has been displayed over four years is one function. To get rid of anything that costs, sell everything that can be sold and make access to statutory services so difficult to access to reduce demand and if reduced enough then sold, closed, binned as no longer required.
This is understanding the cost of everything and the value of nothing.
This is pure parsimony and the utter failure to account for good will, honesty, ethic’s, public service, diligence, hard work, integrity, in fact every single valuable human behaviour that is what being British is all about.
He has ignored the law and misused LTNs illegally for money grabbing purpose. He is a re-elected law breaker and did so with intent in his own words.
The outcome may be the complete and utter destruction of Croydon and its diverse and versatile population.
Who would want to work with a person that smiles and then goes and massacres all voluntary and charitable bodies plugging the holes that cuts and services caused.
Who would want to plug all the gaps in clearing the filth in the public realm that is directly caused by the administrations own actions in having public waste collection points, and oops ”forgetting” to have daily collections in those points for years.
Imbecile? Or parsimony at a level that would make Ebeneezer Scrooge look like Mother Teresa?
This Administration has form – and like Norman Stanley Flethcher is habitual and with intent and has got another four years. But He does not care. He has taken over the Public Realm and created a realm of filth, dishonesty and drug fuelled crime for honest working and diligent residents. Then put a virtual barricade around those wards and removed the guards.
Seem a bit harsh? The evidence is documented and plain to see.
Welcome to the land of flies. Ralph has gone
Hail Mayor Jack of the Flies.
I am seriously amused that anyone at all believes the next four years can or will be any different
Aside from the Purley pool lie, Perry has done good stuff for the southern areas of Croydon where he resides. But, for the other Labour areas in central and northern parts of Croydon…you are unfortunately correct in saying he “created a realm of filth, dishonesty and drug fuelled crime for honest working and diligent residents.”
Sorry Sarah: what has Perry, in his unenlightened self-interest, even done for the south of the borough?
1) Relatively clean barring the odd flytip every few streets sometimes.
2) Fewer social housing and hmo units compared to centre too.
Admitedly he hasn’t improved the areas around here nor has he vastly declined the areas here either. Hence why the majority voted for him last election wanting stability. I do wish there wasn’t a massive North and South divide where you can see the centre has massively crumbled under his leadership though
You are right Sarah
All the public realm has to have effective public service and to be be safe and clean to live in for everyone.
At the same time everyone has to do their bit also to support and assist those employed in working on our behalf.
We do not have that in all of Croydon or even in the main.
We have and the kind of self interested politician and politic’s that is divisive, creates social unrest, distrust and disgust.
This does not create a safe public environment overall. Even for those getting in the short term what they feel they want.
They live in an enclave, in fear of other areas, with a false sense of security – but knowing what history shows for their future.
We really do need politicians to do the job, as it says on the tin, for everyone, equally, fairly and inclusively.
When that happens, a lot more people, do a lot more for and in the community -all parts of the community – and trust gets rebuilt.
When it does not the opposite occurs.
Today we have a large portion of residents in a borough who have lost faith and trust in its local estabishment.
Croydon is no longer a safe borough in any part or ward irrespective of political social engineering.
If Pork-Pies Perry really wanted to find out how CALAT can continue to meet local needs and wants, he’d start by asking their staff, business leaders including Croydon BID and past, prospective and current CALAT students.
Instead the pompous pillock is wasting our money on hiring management consultants from Mime when he’s already decided to kick most of CALAT out of the Clocktower and decimate its course provision. Their review won’t be “independent” but designed to fit Piss-Poor’s ‘fait accomplis’
Mayor Perry on Twitter today: CALAT is not being cut. Funding stays in place, courses will continue and no jobs are at risk.
Classes are simply moving to an existing CALAT centre at Strand House. Labour and Inside Croydon’s claims otherwise are irresponsible scaremongering.”
At least we know Jason reads Inside Croydon now
There’s a reason he’s called Porkie Pie Perry, as we will report very soon.
Sarah ask yourself these questions
How many classes can one building provide at the times people can attend and is safe and accessible?
How many living outside West Croydon will be happy and feel safe to venture into the Mayors Croydon created Crackland in the evening – or in fact at anytime?
If and when class attendance gets less and less due to accessibility and safety concerns, do you believe that funding will still be in place or classes still held?
Mr Perry has form in creating an environment that reduces apparant demand then cuts the services stating their is no demand.
Think Libraries.
Think Access
Think unlawful LTNs
Think total inaction on enforcement in many wards for years and then lies in election year.
Evidence so clearly points to this behavioural outcome in most services destroyed and the additional rampant borrowing and debt loaded onto the Borough.
Would it not be better to close Strand House and move all classes to the Clocktower or Council building where it is safer and all peope in all wards can access educational needs ?
Remember many requiring those courses and wanting to better themselves do not have a lot of resource. Why make it even more inaccessible?
Centralising all service provision could help regenerate the town centre and free up the use of Strand house to rent out or develop.
Ah perhaps there is the rub who would privately like to use Strand House v Croydon Clocktower?
I wonder what an Environmental Risk assessment on both places would show?
“….who would privately like to use Strand House v Croydon Clocktower?”
Most would probably prefer Clocktower as there is less chance of getting stabbed or mugged. Probably lesser stench of weed there too.
You got to hand it to Mayor Perry …..but at least he reads this website.