Council leaders hit out after unspent money that could have 'changed so many lives' in the West Midlands is clawed back by Government
Council leaders have hit out after unspent money that could have “changed so many lives” in the West Midlands was clawed back by the Government.
Members of the West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA) Board were told £1.6 million from a £9.4 million Free Courses for Jobs grant was returned to the Department for Education after it was not used in the 2023/24 academic year.
City of Wolverhampton Council leader Stephen Simkins and Solihull Council leader Karen Grinsell voiced their concerns about the situation.
Officers reassured them the authority was on track for full delivery against its 2024/25 allocation, adding devolution and the integrated settlement would give more flexibility to invest money received.
Councillor Simkins said: “What’s disappointing is that there is £1.6 million that’s been clawed back by the Government that was underspent by the previous administration.
“What guarantees can you give us that any skills money or any more that comes from Government is not clawed back?
“We need to maximise delivery for the whole of the region and £1.6 million earmarked for skills could have changed so many lives.
“It’s important that we plan so that we get the maximum spend and maximum benefit for our residents across the the whole of the Combined Authority.”
Interim WMCA chief executive Ed Cox said: “It is a big concern when we’re not making sure the funding we are given is getting out of the door and delivering services to communities.
“In relation to the skills funding, it is £1.6 million in the context of the best part of £150 million of the whole skills budget.
“There is a specific problem with this programme which it is targeted on level three skills and our colleges have not been set up to deliver level 3 skills so they have struggled to put in place the capacity to deliver those courses.
“Hence the fact that money wasn’t spent in that particular year.
“We’ve worked very closely with the colleges in order to make sure they do have the capacity to deliver those skills and in this financial year, they are on target to hit 100 per cent with that particular fund.”
West Midlands Mayor Richard Parker added: “We need to take responsibility for the funds devolved to us, use them as effectively as possible.
“With the freedoms and flexibilities we’ve got going forward and our longer term planning of how we use those resources, I believe and I am confident we will be using all the sums allocated to us.
“We must ensure if ever there is a risk of us not using those funds, we will take action to intervene and mitigate to ensure we are using those resources.”
