Agenda item - City Employment & Skills Plan and Area Review Update

Report of the Executive Director of Children’s Services (copy attached)

RESOLVED:

(1)  That the Committee notes the emerging priorities and recommendations for action to be taken forward for the new City Employment & Skills Plan (2016-2020).

(2)  That this City Employment and Skills Plan is also being presented to the Economic Development and Culture Committee on 10 March  2016.

(3)  That the final City Employment & Skills Plan and a full report of the Sussex Area Review and local review will be presented to this committee on 6June 2016.

(4)  That the Committee notes the developments contained in the Committee paper “Proposed changes and developments in the council’s Youthwork Service.

76.1    The Committee considered the report of the Acting Executive Director Environment Development & Housing, and the Executive Director Children’s Services. The report updated the Committee on progress on the development of the new City Employment & Skills Plan (2016-2020) and informed the Committee of the outcomes form the consultations, the emerging priorities and recommendations for action. The report also provided an update on the Sussex Area Review of post 16 provision and aligned the local review. The report was presented the Acting Executive Director Environment Development & Housing, the Economic Development Programme Manager and Ms C Muson-Dire (Rocket Science).

76.2    Councillor Wealls welcomed the report but was concerned that some of the data was not clear.

76.3    Ms K Kybble (Youth Council) asked if children would be consulted and was advised they would be.

76.4    Councillor Phillips referred to the Employer Skills Task Force (ESTF) and suggested that young people rather than employers should be central to its development. The Chair disagreed and said that apprenticeships could not be created without employers. Employers wanted to engage but weren’t sure how to and that was how the ESTF could help.

76.5    Councillor Daniel was pleased that so many different groups were engaged in the process and hoped that there would be continued engagement with Black and Minority Ethnic (BME) groups, those in NEET and disabled groups. The Economic Development Programme Manager confirmed they would. Councillor Daniel said that many parents did not understand the value of apprenticeships, or were unaware of the variety of options available, and asked that more information be available to them.

76.6    Mr K Darvas (Youth Council) suggested that it would be useful if employers visited schools to explain more about apprenticeships, what would be involved and what employers would expect from young people. The Chair agreed and thought that would be very useful.

76.7    Councillor Wealls noted that the consultants were would be working with minority groups including those with disabilities, and suggested that the city’s Autism Champion be consulted.

76.8    RESOLVED:

(1)  That the Committee noted the emerging priorities and recommendations for action to be taken forward for the new City Employment & Skills Plan (2016-2020).

(2)  That this City Employment and Skills Plan was also being presented to the Economic Development and Culture Committee on 10 March  2016.

(3)  That the final City Employment & Skills Plan and a full report of the Sussex Area Review and local review will be presented to this committee on 6June 2016.

(4)  That the Committee noted the developments contained in the Committee paper “Proposed changes and developments in the council’s Youthwork Service.