
Adult education centres to shut across Derbyshire
No final decisions have been made.The council receives funding for the centres predominantly from central government and the East Midlands Mayoral Combined Authority.Earlier this year the government cut the adult skills budget by about 6%.The council has sought to move a number of services away from bricks and mortar bases in recent years incorporating more home-based models in areas like social care, or deploying more use of digital technology.
'Extremely disappointing'
Alan Squires is a member of a weekly pottery group at the Eco Centre in Wirksworth, which has been given a six-week notice to pack up its clay and glazes, potter's wheels, kilns and other kit and vacate.He said: "It's very sudden - it's not the end of the next financial year, it's next month and we're out on our ear."There's a lot of people that rely upon the centre for mental wellbeing."People will be lost. It performs a crucial role in all sorts of aspects and other centres do things like teaching basic English and maths and essential skills for life."People need to be made aware of what's now being cut way beyond the bone in terms of functions of the county council."Derbyshire's Conservative group leader Alex Dale said the decision was "extremely disappointing" and pointed the finger at funding cuts from central government.He said: "We will be pushing to ensure, at the very least, that alternative venues can be found for as many courses as possible in those communities affected."Adult education plays a vitally important role and it's essential that it remains accessible to all."The BBC has contacted the Department for Education and the East Midlands Mayor's office for comment.
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The Independent
19 minutes ago
- The Independent
Streeting to resident doctors: ‘I deeply regret position we find ourselves in'
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Mr Streeting said he had asked the BMA for strikes to be postponed for a 'few weeks so we could work together on a detailed package that could form an offer to you to end this dispute'. He wrote to the RDC on Monday evening setting out a way to avert strike action, which had been discussed with the RDC in draft form, he added. 'I had responded to their requests for where additional information was required,' he said. 'I no longer believe that they have engaged with me in good faith.' Mr Streeting continued: 'I deeply regret the position we now find ourselves in. The public, and I am sure many of you, do not understand the rush to strike action. 'I would like to thank all those that will be turning up to work and supporting their colleagues in providing care for patients despite the challenging circumstances. I urge you to join them. We can achieve more for both doctors and patients by working together.' 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Rory Deighton, acute and community care director at the NHS Confederation, said: 'These strikes were not inevitable – the Government entered negotiations with the BMA in good faith to discuss improving the working and training lives of resident doctors… 'The impact of these strikes and the distress they will cause patients rests with the BMA.' The BMA argues real-terms pay has fallen by around 20% since 2008, and is pushing for full 'pay restoration'. The union is taking out national newspaper adverts on Friday, saying it wants to 'lay bare the significant pay difference between a resident doctor and their non-medically qualified assistants'. It said the adverts 'make clear that while a newly-qualified doctor's assistant is taking home over £24 per hour, a newly-qualified doctor with years of medical school experience is on just £18.62 per hour'. The BMA said Mr Streeting and his officials have refused to continue talks across the strike days and the minister's letter to them 'amounted to nothing more than vague promises on non-pay issues'. RDC co-chairs Dr Melissa Ryan and Dr Ross Nieuwoudt said in a statement: 'Pay erosion has now got to the point where a doctor's assistant can be paid up to 30% more than a resident doctor. That's going to strike most of the public that use the NHS as deeply unfair. 'Resident doctors are not worth less than they were 17 years ago, but unfortunately they've seen their pay erode by more than 21% in the last two decades. We're not working 21% less hard so why should our pay suffer? 'We're asking for an extra £4 per hour to restore our pay. It's a small price to pay for those who may hold your life in their hands.' The statement said Mr Streeting had every opportunity to prevent the strike, and added: 'We want these strikes to be the last we ever have to participate in. 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The Independent
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The Independent
19 minutes ago
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