Agenda and minutes

As Cllr Kilbane, Chair of the Committee had given apologies for the meeting, the Committee unanimously elected Cllr Douglas as Vice Chair for the meeting.

Resolved: That Cllr Douglas be elected as Vice Chair of the Committee for the meeting.

Reason:     In order that there be a Vice Chair for the meeting.

At this point, Members are asked to declare:

·        any personal interests not included on the Register of Interests

·        any prejudicial interests or

·        any disclosable pecuniary interests

which they may have in respect of business on this agenda.

Members were asked to declare, at this point in the meeting, any personal interests not included on the Register of Interests or any prejudicial or discloseable pecuniary interest that they might have in respect of the business on the agenda. The Chair noted his role as Chair of the Learning and Improvement Board. Cllr Pearson noted that he was an apprentice in his workplace. There were no further declarations of interest.

To approve and sign the minutes of the Committee meetings held on 23 February 2021 and 25 March 2021.

Cllr Douglas noted that she and Cllr Taylor felt that the information on recycling provided at the meeting held on 25 March 2021 was not sufficient to make a recommendation to the Executive Member. It was agreed that minutes would be amended to reflect that point.

Resolved:  That the minutes of the meeting held on 25 March approved subject to the inclusion of the above amendment and be signed by the Chair at a later date.

Webcasting of Public Meetings

Please note that, subject to available resources, this public meeting will be webcast including any registered public speakers who have given their permission. The remote public meeting can be viewed live and on demand at www.york.gov.uk/webcasts.

During coronavirus, we've made some changes to how we're running council meetings. See our coronavirus updates (www.york.gov.uk/COVIDDemocracy) for more information on meetings and decisions.

It was reported that there were no registered speakers registered under the councils public participation scheme.

To consider “Reskilling the workforce” including working with partners such as the Universities. Partners from further and higher education will be participating in discussions on this item. The One-year plan – Skills for employment in York as presented to the Executive Member for Economy and Strategic Planning at his Decision Session on 23 March 2021 is attached for background information.

In consideration of the update on the ongoing economic recovery strategy, Members, external partners and council officers discussed reskilling the workforce. The following partners from further and higher education were in attendance at the meeting to be participate in discussions:  

·        Lee Probert (Principal of York College and Chair of Skills Board)

·        Amanda Selvaratnam (Associate Director for Research and Enterprise, University of York and Chair of the Skills Board Task & Finish Group)

·        Dr Tim Whitaker (CEO & Principal at Askham Bryan College and Member of the Skills Board)

·        Professor Robert Mortimer (Pro Vice Chancellor: Research and Knowledge Transfer, York St John University)

They were also joined by the council’s Head of Economic Development, Skills Manager (Employer Engagement, Employability and Skills), Assistant Director Education and Skills and Executive Member for Economy and Strategic Planning. The One-year plan – Skills for employment in York as presented to the Executive Member for Economy and Strategic Planning at his Decision Session on 23 March 2021 had been provided for background information.

The Skills Manager gave on update on the one year skills plan noting progress against its priorities, within the longer terms skills strategy and the covid response strategy. She explained the structure of the Skills and Employment Board including the Task and Finish Group, which was chaired by the Associate Director for Research and Enterprise, University of York.

The Chair invited the Executive Member for Economy and Strategic Planning to open discussion. The Executive Member advised that a priority of the Skills Board was to look at the impact of covid on employment and added that the one year skills plan responded to this. He noted the connection with community hubs in the covid response and he thanked staff and Skills Board members for their work.

The Chair of the Skills Board explained that the Board was borne out of the work of Higher York. The Board had looked at the interventions needed as a result of the pandemic and included representatives from education, training, business, employers, providers and the local authority. He reported that over the next 10 years the skills strategy would have three chapters – a one year plan; a 2-5 year medium term strategy; and 6-10 year longer term strategy. The approach had been to include employers, providers, and the local authority and he noted that as Principal, York College were benefitting from input from providers and employers.

The Chair of the Task and Finish Group explained her role in running the group. She explained the four core commitments of the one year skills plan, each one of which had a task and finish group. She added that the one year skills plan and 10 year strategy showed a combined commitment to work together to the same goals. She noted that principles of engagement from employers.

The CEO & Principal at Askham Bryan College noted that the college was one of ten independent land based colleges in England and it worked closely across the city, including a considerable engagement  ...  view the full minutes text for item 18.

To consider the oversight of Skills Board and it’s reporting mechanisms. The Skills Strategy Update, as presented to the Executive Member for Economy and Strategic Planning at his Decision Session on 27 April 2021 is attached for background information.

Members considered the oversight of Skills Board and its reporting mechanisms. The Skills Strategy Update, as presented to the Executive Member for Economy and Strategic Planning at his Decision Session on 27 April 2021 was attached for background information.

The Skills Manager explained that the frequency of the Skills Board meetings. She explained that the skills partnership had secured a consultant to help write the skills strategy, and build an evidence base, which included evidence from the LEPs. She added that work around government announcements was ongoing. She reported that the economic growth strategy consultation had begun and would run for the rest of the year.

The Chair of the Skills Board noted that the board was accountable to the city and employers and that that each partner on the board contributed to the strategy. He added that each board member had their own accounting mechanism back to their own institution. He then advised that as the government rolled out local areas having a local improvement plan, representative bodies would be expected to agree a plan for their area. The Executive Member Economy and Strategic Planning outlined the investment from the government that had come through the LEP, noting the digital training hub at Askham Bryan College as an example of this. In response to a question from the Chair he explained that employers were finding it hard to see into the longer term and the Board as trying to help employers articulate what their needs were now and in the future. He noted that cross cutting themes were seen in creative and digital employers and that the challenge was in the modes of skills acquisition.

A member asked about training and skills for green jobs. The Chair of the Skills Board noted the importance of identifying where skills were needed for green jobs and how this would be slotted into existing education. An example of this was adjusting plumbing courses to take account of future needs such as training for the installation of ground source heat pumps.

When asked about bringing a report back to a future committee meeting, the Chair of the Skills Board noted that York College’s accountability was discharged through its governing body. He added that the work of the skills partnership could reported back through the Executive Member for Economy and Strategic Planning and council officers. The Executive Member for Economy and Strategic Planning noted that regarding the 10 years skills plan, the intention was to present this through a joint scrutiny committee meeting involving the committee and the Children, Education and Communities Policy and Scrutiny

Committee. He advised that there was the opportunity to comment on the quarterly economic update at his Executive Member Decision Sessions and that the 10 year strategy would be presented to the Executive in autumn.

A Member suggested that it would be useful to have frequent report on the one year skills plan at future meetings. The Chair suggested that this could be examined as part of the pre  ...  view the full minutes text for item 19.

To consider the In-Work Poverty Review (as part of the Corporate Review into Poverty).

The Chair explained the background and timeline of the review as part of the corporate review into poverty prior to the outbreak of the covid pandemic. He reported that the specific issue of in work poverty, as allocated by the Customer and Corporate Services Scrutiny Management Committee, had not been carried forward by the Committee. He suggested that as a way forward he could find out from the Chair of the Customer and Corporate Services Scrutiny Management Committee if the corporate review was to proceed, and if this was the case, for the Head of Economic Growth to revisit the issue and prepare a report for the committee to consider and form the basis of its submission to the Customer and Corporate Services Scrutiny Management Committee.

The Chair welcomed questions and comments. It was noted that the Chair, and Cllrs Douglas and Hook had met as a sub-committee to look at the review prior to the outbreak. It was suggested that it would be useful to visit the review in light of the changes as a result of the pandemic. It was expressed that an update from the Head of Economic Growth would be welcomed. It was noted that prior its presentation at Executive, the Committee would look at the Quarterly Economic Update at the next committee on 27 July 2021.

Resolved: That the Chair contact the Chair of the Customer and Corporate Services Scrutiny Management Committee regarding revised instructions on the corporate review into poverty.

Reason:     In order to find out if the In-Work Poverty Review                         should be progressed.