Learning and Skills Council Cash Freeze hits South Kent College (Shepway Liberal Democrats)

Learning and Skills Council Cash Freeze hits South Kent College

February 11, 2009 9:00 AM

South Kent College (Folkestone campus)

There are doubts over the future of a £55million learning campus in Ashford, Kent after the Learning Skills Council, which is in charge of funding, announced a temporary freeze on all decisions on major schemes.

The Learning and Skills Council says the recession has prompted a review of various college proposals but insists the moratorium on its building programme does not mean any have been dropped.

The Learning Skills Council is due to be abolished next year. Responsibility for decisions about post-16 education will be handed to the county council.

South Kent College principal Monica Box said the LSC's decision was a concern.

"This part of Kent has had less further education capital funding than any other area in Kent, so any delay or hold up to that funding is a source of concern. We would regret this very much as we are very keen to access this funding for the Ashford Learning Campus. We worry because South Kent has so far not had the same opportunity for capital investment in learning and skills that other parts of the county have had."

The Learning and Skills Council said it wanted to examine the viability of various college plans in the wake of the economic downturn.

Funding for some schemes is dependent on the sale of existing properties and land and in many cases, estimates of how much might be raised will need to be reviewed.

In a statement, Learning and Skills Council chief executive Mark Haysom said:

"There are early signs the ability of colleges to raise their own funds for proposed projects is being affected by the downturn. It is for this reason the LSC is working closely with colleges that have or intend to submit bids to look at the individual current positions before making further funding decisions."

Shepway Liberal Democrats