Agenda item

This report presents the findings and recommendations of the Youth Unemployment Scrutiny Review Task Group.

Members received a draft final report which presented them with the findings and recommendations of the Youth Unemployment Scrutiny Review Task Group.

Discussion took place on the issue of work experience between Members. They felt that work experience was highly beneficial for young people, not only for observing what the world of work was like, but for taking young people out of school and giving them experiences outside of the school environment. In reference to a comment made by the public speaker at today’s meeting  Members felt that they would like to consider a briefing note from York Council for Voluntary Service (CVS) on their Volunteering Charter at a future meeting. They requested that the Scrutiny Officer write to York CVS on behalf of the Committee to arrange this.

An Officer update was circulated to Members at the meeting. This update included the latest Job Seekers Allowance (JSA) Figures and Information for February 2013, an update on the success of the free bus travel scheme which was offered in January 2013 and further implications from the recommendations of the Draft Final Report. This was attached to the agenda, which was subsequently republished following the meeting.

Discussion between Members took place on the Officer update. Some Members felt that the statistics did not show that there was a small number of 16-18 year olds who qualified for benefits. They also highlighted that there were differing reasons for why young people took part time roles. For example, some had the choice to take on part time employment but for others these opportunities were the only ones available to them, and they could be overqualified for these positions. Other Members felt that further opportunities to encourage contractors coming in to look at hiring a local workforce should be explored.

Members agreed to forward to the Scrutiny Officer, some additional wording around the fact that despite its high ranking for high skills levels the city ranked much lower when it came to GVA (Gross Value Added) per capita. This mismatch of skills and productivity suggests that although we have a significant high value skills base, we are not maximising the utilisation of these skills in appropriately high skilled jobs. 

In response to points raised by Members, Officers informed the Committee that a construction skills course had been recently developed in conjunction with the Council and local companies. They added that further promotion of this course, could widen opportunities for young people in the construction sector. This was particularly significant given that posts in construction were amongst the highest requested vacancies from young people.

Discussion took place around the Task Group’s recommendations, in particular Recommendation 2 (on Apprenticeships) and Recommendation 3 (on Work Experience).

In relation to Recommendation 2, Members suggested that a timescale was not set out clearly in the recommendation and that it might be beneficial to apply a year on year target to apprenticeships offered by the Council.

Regarding Recommendation 3, on work experience, some Members felt that further examination needed to take place on the availability and suitability of placements in order to expand the range of opportunities for young people. Officers reported to Members that work experience placements within the Council were currently under expansion, and although specific schemes such as the Graduate and Student Internship Programme (as mentioned in Recommendation 3ii) was a pilot, it was hoped that this too could be further developed.

One Member raised the point that the success of Recommendation 9 (to investigate the feasibility of funding/providing sustainable subsidised travel that firs shift patterns and would help young people to access entry level jobs outside of the city centre e.g. bicycles, public transport, car share) might depend on the decisions made by external transport companies.

The Chair thanked the Members of the Task Group, and Officers for the work they had carried out on the scrutiny review. Following discussion, it was decided that Councillor D’Agorne, as a member of the Task Group, should present the Draft Final Report at the Cabinet meeting.

RESOLVED:       (i)      That the report be noted.

(ii)      That the ten recommendations set out in the Officer’s report be agreed prior to them being referred to the Cabinet for consideration.

(iii)     That the information circulated at the meeting within the Officer update be woven into the draft final report prior to it being submitted to the Cabinet for consideration.

(iv)    That the Scrutiny Officer reflects the discussions at this meeting in the draft final report prior to it being submitted to Cabinet for consideration.

(v)     That the Scrutiny Officer write to York Council for Voluntary Service to request a briefing note be produced for Members of the Committee on York CVS Volunteering Charter.¹

(vi)    That Councillor D’Agorne present the Draft Final Report to the Cabinet at their meeting on 7 May 2013.

REASON:           To bring this Scrutiny Review to a close.