Agenda item

The Chair introduced a report which provided an update on developments related to the EEHT Work Programme, including the work of Task and Finish Groups.

One member asked if there was any opportunity to include further work on skills in the work programme for 2015/16. The Board had led some successful work on apprenticeships, but there was a need to ensure there were opportunities for reskilling, and to make sure residents were digitally skilled to meet the aspirations of councils. The Head of Policy highlighted that the LGA had delivered a paper on localising skills before the General Election, and there would be a need to adapt that work to make sure there was an evidence base for city and county deals. There was a national concern that there was not a big enough skill base to build the number of houses expected over the next five years. The Chair highlighted that the Board had already done a lot of work on this issue through the Hidden Talents campaign.

Decision

·         The Board noted the updates on the Work Programme.