Agenda and minutes

At this point Members are asked to declare any personal or prejudicial interests they may have in the business on this agenda.

At this point in the meeting, Members were asked to declare and personal or prejudicial interests they may have in the business on the agenda. None were declared

To approve and sign the minutes of the meeting held on 23 March 2010.

RESOLVED:             That the minutes of the last meeting held on 23 March 2010 be approved and signed by the Chair as a correct record subject to the following amendment:

·        That ‘looked after children’ be added to the terms of reference described at minute 38.

At this point in the meeting, members of the public who have registered their wish to speak regarding an item on the agenda or an issue within the Committee’s remit can do so. The deadline for registering is Tuesday 27 April 2010 at 5.00 pm.

It was reported that there had been no registrations to speak under the Council’s Public Participation Scheme

This report presents a suggested timetable for the review, and provides information relating to the first two objectives.  Members are asked to identify recommendations relating to these objectives and agree how to progress this review.

Members considered a report which presented a suggested timetable for the review of City of York Council Apprenticeships and Other Work Based Learning Opportunities. Members were asked to identify recommendations relating to the objectives agreed at the last meeting and to agree how to progress the review.

Officers presented the report and discussions were had on the following issues:

• The existence of York Training Centre in the City Strategy Directorate which has a contract with the Learning and Skills Council and claims funding for apprenticeships on behalf of the Council.
• Three quarters of York Training Centre’s business is from outside of the Council and it is questionable whether enough is being done within the Council to promote the service.
• Government funding issues mean that many local authorities no longer fully participate in such schemes.
• How the pay scale for apprentices at the Council is decided and whether it is directorate led or through  a centrally controlled scheme.
• How a co-ordinated framework across the directorates would be monitored.

Members felt that it would be beneficial for the Council’s first ‘Work Force Plan’ which is currently being drafted for the period 2010 to 2012 to be brought to them for consideration prior to it being presented to the Executive.

RESOLVED:             (i)  That Members noted the contents of the report.

(ii) That Members wished to be consulted on the draft Work Force plan prior to it being put before the Executive and receive a presentation at the next meeting.

(iii) That the two additional meeting dates at paragraph 7 be agreed.

REASON:                        To progress this review in line with Scrutiny procedures and protocols.