Issue - meetings

To consider a report on the determination of discretionary awards for the 2012/13 academic year.

The Local Education Authority (Post Compulsory Education Awards) regulations 199 (S.I. 199/229) required Local Authorities to make an annual determination in respect of their powers to make awards to students. The determination had to be made before the start of the following financial year. The requirement to make annual determination applied regardless of whether a local authority had previously determined that it would not exercise its power to offer awards.

The Council had already determined not to exercise the power to offer discretionary awards for the 2012/13 academic year. No financial provision had been made to make discretionary awards in the 21012/13 academic year either for a specific category or on appeal.

The effect on applicants remained unchanged since 200/01 when the former Cheshire County Council first decided not take up the discretionary powers and no new awards had been made since then. No discretionary awards had be made since the academic year 20034 when existing students already in receipt of an award were funded from a residual fund to allow them to complete their course.

RESOLVED

That the Council does not take up the power to grant discretionary awards for the 2013/14 academic year.