Agenda item

EamonLally,SeniorAdvisor,introducedthereport. He advised theboard of currentandfutureactivitytheLGA was engaged in,drawingmembers’ attention to workwith Job CentrePlus, work onareareviewsand apprenticeship arrangements.

He advised theboardthat the reporthadalsogone totheLGA People and PlacesBoard, andthat officerswould becollating informationfromthe discussionsat both board meetingstotakeforward.

Inthediscussionwhich followed,membersraisedthefollowingpoints:

·    TheLGA should bepushing fora joint conversation with governmentdepartmentson thisarea.

·    Thecurriculum taught inschoolsbetween the agesof5 and 16 needed tobe moreresponsive to thelabour market. Schools needed to ensurethat youngpeople werepreparedfor jobs prospectsintheirlocalities. There was currently littlefocuson apprenticeships inschools.Members queriedwhatwould happen to apprenticeships whenschoolsbecome academies and suggestedthat responsibilityforeducationcouldbe fullydevolved.

·    Theadulteducation budgetwas changingandthe moneyprovided had decreased. Membersaskedhowmoneywould bedelivered to further educationcolleges.

·    Membershighlightedtheneedto continuetomake the case with

DWPfora localisedWorkProgramme.

·    It was suggestedthecouncilsand local employerscould work together to raisetheprofile of, and ease of accessto, apprenticeship schemes.

·    Inreferenceto point16,itwasfelt thatapprenticeship targets placed on councilswould bedifficult to achieve.Members emphasisedthat obligationson publicsectorbodies needed clarifying,asdid howsmall and mediumsizedenterprises would support and sustain apprenticeships.Concern was expressed about the centralisationelementsoftheseplans.

·    Inreferenceto point19,itwas suggestedthat whenDWP’s contractwith Job Centre Plus cameup forrenewal,there was an opportunityfor councilsto takeon somemore of the workin this area.

Actions:

1.    LGA officersto continueto lookat apprenticeships as part of wider workon employment and skills.

2.  MSOtotypeup thediscussionbeforethemeeting between City

RegionsandPeople andPlacesBoardLeadMembers onthe7th

April 2016.

Decisions:

1.    Membersnotedthereport.

2.  Membersaskedofficersto continue with workon Employmentand

Skills taking into account the steer givenabove.