Perry’s porkie pies: this frame from an internal council briefing a few weeks ago shows the plans to outsource CALAT – and proves that Mayor Jason Perry this week lied about his cuts
Opposition is mounting to the Croydon Mayor’s scheme to outsource the council’s adult education service, with a public petition describing any plans to undermine CALAT as ‘vandalism’. EXCLUSIVE by STEVEN DOWNES
Croydon East MP Natasha Irons and the University and College Union have this week joined calls to halt any moves by Tory Mayor Jason Perry to outsource CALAT, Croydon Adult Learning and Training, in an effort to save the cash-strapped council some money.
The union’s general secretary, Jo Grady, has told this website: “Decisions are being made without proper consultation.”
And a public petition has been submitted which states, “Any attempt to cut, decrease or diminish the services is an act of vandalism which will only harm the people of this town.”
This week, council insiders have spoken about what they see as a deliberate attempt by Perry’s council to set up CALAT to fail. The council is currently conducting a “review” of the service, while at the same time forcing CALAT out of its town centre base at the Clocktower.
Many council staff believe that the outcome of the review is in any case a foregone conclusion, with internal council documents provided in a briefing in July stating categorically: “Changes to adult learning delivery model to outsource” in efforts to reduce costs or generate income.
CALAT is among the few services which has remained admired and cherished by the residents that the omnishambles council is supposed to serve.
CALAT is one of the country’s largest adult education providers. It has delivered part-time academic, vocational and recreational courses since around 1954. The slogan on the front page of its website is: “Change your life through learning.”
Today, CALAT offers around 500 courses, including GCSE English and Maths, English for speakers of other languages – vitally important in a diverse borough such as Croydon – as well as digital skills and vocational training in areas such as childcare and bookkeeping. CALAT also provides dedicated courses for adults with learning difficulties or disabilities.
Inside Croydon broke the news of Mayor Perry’s secret plan to outsource the borough’s adult education service last week, shortly after the organisation announced that it was being forced out of its long-standing base in the Clocktower.
Our news report was swiftly followed by a lengthy email from porkie-pie Perry to the borough’s councillors. It was the first communication many of them had had from the council about the future of CALAT, despite weeks of speculation that Perry was plotting something.
In his email, Perry used increasing demand for vocational courses – which CALAT already provides – as his rationale for his “review”.
And he wrote: “We are exploring options for a financially sustainable adult learning service.”
Now MP Irons has stepped in, writing to Venetia Reid-Baptiste, the council’s corporate director of “sustainable communities, regeneration and economic recovery” to highlight how moving CALAT’s lessons to Thornton Heath and New Addington, and away from the town centre, will make it more difficult for her constituents to attend, and thus undermine the organisation’s operation.
Constituents’ concerns: Croydon East MP Natasha Irons says moving CALAT will make it more difficult for peope to attend their classes
“Moving the classes from the central town centre location will result in lower attendance,” Irons wrote, explaining how accessibility and public transport links are better in the town centre.
“I have received positive feedback on the quality of courses provided by CALAT,” Irons wrote.
“Residents state these have helped promote social inclusion and improve the mental health of attendees.
“Therefore, constituents are keen to ensure the impact this change in location could have has been fully considered.”
Irons sought reassurances from the six-figure-salaried civic servant about how the CALAT services will be protected.
And Jo Grady, the University and College Union general secretary, told Inside Croydon: “Our members working at CALAT are understandably concerned about the potential outsourcing of the programme, on top of being forced out of its town centre base.
CALAT staff ‘have been left in the dark’: UCU gen sec Jo Grady
“Staff have been left in the dark and the reasoning behind the proposals has not been made clear.
“We urgently need clarity regarding the impact assessments on provision across all courses, ESOL [English for Speakers of Other Languages] and on NEETs [Not in Employment, Education and Training].
“Any business case that proposes outsourcing, which is underpinned with public money, needs proper scrutiny,” Grady said.
“The highly skilled staff at CALAT provide a vital service to a large and under-represented group of learners, yet feel decisions are being made without proper consultation.
“Croydon Council must work with staff to ensure learners are not disrupted by any move at the start of the academic year and confirm that no jobs will be lost.”
Hidden away on the council’s website is a public petition (petitioners have to give the council their full names and addresses, which might deter council or CALAT staff from becoming signatories).
The petition states:
We the undersigned petition Croydon Council to think again and scrap proposals to outsource CALAT and prevent any cuts and harm to the service provided as a result of the proposals
Croydon Adult Learning and Training (CALAT) has, for years, provided the people of Croydon with reasonably priced, high-quality education.
The service is more than just a tool for upskilling people for the jobs market, it provides an outlet for all people of Croydon and beyond to learn, develop and grow themselves through accessible classes in a rage of artistic, linguistic, cultural and creative pursuits.
Any attempt to cut, decrease or dimish the services is an act of vandalism which will only harm the people of this town.”
If the petition gathers 500 signatories, it can then be presented at a meeting of full council in the Town Hall Chamber, where Perry will be forced to address the genuine concerns of residents, CALAT staff and students, and opposition councillors.
Cornered: his secret plan to outsource CALAT exposed, Perry’s resorted to lies again
CALAT is known to have gone over budget this year, by an amount a little more than that paid to Jason Perry as Mayor over two years.
This week, his secret plan uncovered, part-time Perry hit out at this website, denying that there were any jobs at risk, and claiming that Inside Croydon was “colluding” with Croydon Labour. Which is a straight-up lie.
In a statement posted on his own political website – and not on the council’s official site – Perry played fast and loose with the truth by denying something that no one had said was happening.
“I want to be completely clear… no jobs are at risk because of this move,” Perry blustered.
And he’s right. But no one has ever claimed that the move out of the Clocktower will lead to job cuts.
CALAT jobs will be at risk if Perry goes ahead with his plan to outsource the service, as part of the council’s efforts – according to their own internal documents – to reduce costs and generate income.
Inside Croydon has now confirmed another Perry porkie. Don’t ever believe him when he says he doesn’t read Inside Croydon. Of course he does.
Read more: After closing libraries, now Philistine Perry takes axe to CALAT
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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Closing libraries, cutting adult education, there’s a touch of Pol Pot about Perry
I am pleased that Ms Irons has come out in support. It would be good also if all Councillors as a group table questions to the Mayor and ask for a full discussion on this matter. The mayor should be seeking to have a discussion around supporting CALAT to grow and meet everyones needs going forward. That should include assisting and supprting the Counil administration and CALAT in obtaining other funding, matched funding, support into jobs locally for those successfully improving their skills working via BID with the businesses their to grow local jobs for those coming from CALAT.
So much unrealised potential here for longer term growth – its hard work to achieve.
Greater rewards are not gained for outsourcing cuts – Thats the Lidl mind motto once its gone its gone. Part time thinking that fails to see what real end to end process and delivery actually means.