Decision details

Purpose of the Report:
To outline 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 across the city if York is to meet our carbon reduction targets.

To set out two projects responding to these two drivers, which Executive have already agreed in October 2023 to support through UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF). These represent a short term pilot with potential for delivery across the York and North Yorkshire region. In future, they might then be supported by the Mayoral Combined Authority through future UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF) and gainshare. These two projects aim to increase the local supply of appropriately skilled and qualified employees and businesses that respond to growth in demand.

Funding of £3.37m has recently been awarded by Innovate UK for a project to develop a Retrofit One Stop Shop for York (ROSSY), with City of York Council as lead partner and delivery for 21 months from February 2024. This project is predominantly designed to develop demand for domestic retrofit, complementing the supply-side measures in CSI York. The two initiatives will work together to address our climate change and economic challenges, and the report recommends delegations from Executive to the Corporate Director of Place to enable swift implementation.

The Executive will be asked to:
• Endorse the York Construction Skills Initiative.
• Note the progress made on developing a Construction Skills hub.
• Note the successful application to Innovate UK for the Retrofit One Shop York project and delegate further decisions on implementation to the Corporate Director of Place.

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.