Spend, Spend, Spend? - The Mismanagement of the Learning and Skills Council's Capital Programme in Further Education Colleges

HC 530, Seventh Report of Session 2008-09 - Report, Together with Formal Minutes, Oral and Written Evidence

Author:: House of Commons - Innovation, Universities, Science and Skills Committee
Publisher:: TSO (The Stationery Office)

Spend, Spend, Spend? - The Mismanagement of the Learning and Skills Council's Capital Programme in Further Education Colleges (HC 530)

The Building Colleges for the Future programme was a flagship endeavour for the Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills (DIUS) (as it then was) and the Learning and Skills Council (LSC). Through it the neglected further education sector was finally getting the infrastructure it deserved.

But no-one was keeping an eye on the total amount of money that was being committed and the value of applications coming forward. In December 2008 it became clear that the total potential cost of projects which had received 'Approval in Principle' exceeded the capital budget and many more applications were in the pipeline.

This report, 'Spend, Spend, Spend? - The Mismanagement of the Learning and Skills Council's Capital Programme in Further Education Colleges (HC 530)', finds that:

a complicated management structure at the LSC and approaching government department changes bred a lack of responsibility and gave an air of distraction.
LSC senior management failed to consult regional directors often enough about programme finances and the then Chief Executive and Chairman had no process for regular review of the programme's future direction.
LSC's risk management process failed to identify potential major problems. Both the LSC and DIUS failed to consider the long-term implications of what they were doing.
There was a total failure to pick up messages from the sector or apply common sense about the scale of commitments being made.
The Committee concludes that if quangos are going to manage such large amounts of money they must show due diligence and be proactive in flagging up potential major resource problems to the sponsoring government department.

Extent	136 pages	ISBN	9780215540003
Size	A4	Price	£17.50
Binding	Paperback	Published	17 Jul 2009
Availability	Colour copy: 3 - 5 days	Delivery	Delivery options and charges