Agenda item - Construction Skills and Retrofit

The report outlines the need for a new Construction Skills Initiative (CSI York) to support the development of local employment opportunities resulting from key housing and employment sites in the Local Plan and from the work needed to retrofit domestic and commercial properties.

Resolved:

i. Thanked the founding members of the Construction Skills Partnership for the work they have begun and endorse their approach to developing a Construction Skills Initiative.

Reason: To recognise the work undertaken by industry partners in developing the initiative, and to support the growth of the York economy and the Council’s priorities of affordability, environment, equalities and human rights, and health and wellbeing.

ii. Noted the progress made on developing models for a Construction Skills Village, delivering on-site training and promoting construction as a career to young people and career changers.

Reason: To support Council Plan commitments and City Strategies.

iii. Delegated authority for implementing the Innovate UK-funded Retrofit One Stop Shop York project to the Corporate Director of Place.

Reason: To support corporate objectives to combat climate change.

iv. Approved that the Council enters into any necessary collaborative arrangements and/or contracts with its partners to deliver the ROSSY project, and to delegate authority to the Corporate Director of Place, in consultation with the Chief Finance Officer and the Director of Governance (or their delegated officers), to determine the terms and conditions, and any subsequent modifications and/or extensions thereto.

Reason: To ensure compliance with the Council’s Contract Procedure Rules under Appendix 11 of the Council’s Constitution and, where applicable, the Public Contract Regulations 2015.

v. Approved that the Council enters into any necessary grant funding agreements with the funder, Innovate UK, and any necessary onward grant funding agreements with its partners and/or any other third-parties to deliver the ROSSY project, and to delegate authority to the Corporate Director of Place, in consultation with the Chief Finance Officer and the Director of Governance (or their delegated officers), to determine the terms and conditions of any grant funding agreements entered into, and the provisions of any subsequent modifications and/or extensions thereto.

Reason: To ensure compliance with the Subsidy Control Act 2022, the Council’s Financial Regulations under Appendix 10a of the Council’s Constitution and the Council’s Contract Procedure Rules.

Officers introduced the report and outlined that there were not currently enough people trained in York to meet the cities needs for retrofitting. Therefore they sought the Executives support for a Construction Skills Initiative, the use of Shared Prosperity Funding to support training, and support for a project to create a Retrofit One Stop Shop York to assist residents in choosing and understanding retrofit work.

The Executive Leader welcomed that the construction industry was keen to work with the Council on developing these skills within the city. The Executive Member for Economy and Transport welcomed previous work undertaken using the Shared Prosperity Fund and outlined that the Executive would use this funding to develop a skills village for training and delivering well-paying jobs.

The Executive Member for Environment and Emergency outlined that two third of York’s greenhouse gas emissions came from its buildings. Therefore, she noted that the proposals would help tackle climate change and bring high paid jobs to York. She also welcomed work to provide guidance that would assist residents to know what they can do in their home.