The future of Merton Adult Education has been reviewed by a cross-party scrutiny committee decision ahead of a full Cabinet meeting on September 14.

There has been much controversy surrounding the council’s decision to commission out Merton Adult Education (MAE) and the future of its current site Whatley Avenue as it strives to save £32m in the next four years.

The meeting takes the Labour-run administration a step further in moving to a commissioned model for adult education with the committee recommending that Cabinet consider all options for the future of the Whatley Avenue site including looking at alternative uses for it.

Merton Council’s cabinet member for education Councillor Martin Whelton said: "Government cuts of £71,000 and then a further £118,540 to adult education, back up our decision to move to a different way of providing the service in Merton.

"I am grateful for the work of the scrutiny committee and will consider the recommendations that came from the meeting as we move towards a commissioning model.

"Their views and those of the of the learners with whom we’ve been working, will all go towards helping us make a properly informed decision on how we provide residents with the best possible adult education service across the whole of the borough."

The meeting was held on Wednesday, September 2 at the council offices in Morden.