Agenda item

This report sets out some proposals for the next steps for the agreed scrutiny review on Youth Unemployment (16-24 year olds).

Additional background information is attached at Annex A to this report for reference.

Members received an introductory report on Youth Unemployment.

Officers informed the Committee that the scrutiny review had decided to focus on vacancies in the care and business administration sector in the city, because this was where a large number of vacancies currently existed. They also added that there was a demand for these places to be filled.

An Officer who was responsible for working on the Council’s Apprenticeship Scheme, with a particular responsibility for those in 16-18 year old age group, attended the meeting.

He suggested that the Committee could look at how young people could navigate the labour market. He felt that the young people in the city knew what jobs existed, but support that they might receive needed to direct them more clearly to the jobs. He also added that the support offered to young people needed to explain that some vacancies were not available in the city, and that they might have to travel to attain more preferable employment. Further to this he reported that there had been high demand for apprenticeships in hands on areas such as Park Rangers and working in cafés, but that it was more beneficial for young people to have a realistic view of the current employment situation.

Discussion between Officers and Members took place which concerned what questions the review might seek to focus on. One Member suggested that the Committee could ask employment agencies if gaps and overlaps in provision existed in the care and business administration sectors, and to decide following the receipt of this information if  gaps and overlaps were particularly significant.

Officers also pointed out that for those aged over 18 there were  multiple funding schemes along with agencies and contractors responsible for their distribution. They suggested that perhaps the Committee could look at whether the contractors were working effectively together.

Other Members felt that a motivation problem existed and that current training gave young people the chance to go to interviews, but did not train them on how to successfully complete an interview.

Members decided that they wished to proceed with the review through a Task Group. They agreed that the Task Group membership be comprised of Councillors D’Agorne, Riches and Semlyen. It was also agreed that one of these Members would attend the Skills Summit on the 9^th July, as a representative of the Task Group.

Members also considered the draft remit set out in paragraph 2 of the report. A third bullet point was added to the key objectives section of the remit as follows:

·          To investigate whether there are any gaps and/or overlaps in provision and if so make recommendation to address them.

RESOLVED:       (i)      That the report be noted.

(ii)      That the topic be progressed to review and that a Task Group be formed in order to examine this.

(iii)     That Councillors D’Agorne, Riches and Semlyen be appointed to make up the Task Group.

(iv)    That the draft remit for the review as set out in Paragraph 2 of the Officer’s report be agreed with the addition of a third bullet point in the key objectives section as set out in the minute above.

(v)     That a member of the Task Group attend the York Skills Summit on 9^th July 2012.

REASON:           In order to progress the review.