Agenda and minutes

To consider and approve the minutes of the previous meeting held on 25^th July, 2019, as a true and correct record of the proceedings.

Consideration was given to the minutes of the previous meeting of the Improving Places Select Commission held on 25^th July, 2019.

Further to Minute No. 13 (Thriving Neighbourhoods - Update), guidance in relation to spending devolved budgets during the pre-election publicity period would follow in due course.

Regarding Minute No. 14 (Evaluation of the Time for Action Initiative), the additional information requested would be followed up.

Resolved:- That the minutes of the previous meeting held on 25^th July, 2019 be approved as a correct record.

To receive declarations of interest from Members in respect of items listed on the agenda.

There were no Declarations of Interest made at the meeting.

To receive questions relating to items of business on the agenda from members of the public or press who are present at the meeting.

There were no members of the public or press present at the meeting.

To consider whether the press and public should be excluded from the meeting during consideration of any part of the agenda.

There were no agenda items requiring the exclusion of the press or members of the public from the meeting.

To receive communications from the Chair in respect of matters within the Commission’s remit and work programme.

Worksmart

A briefing paper had previously been circulated, as requested by Members.  No comments were made or further information requested.

RotherFed

Two meetings would be held at Springwell Gardens on 14^th October and 18^th November commencing at 10:30am to consider housing adaptations.  Members of Improving Places were welcome to attend and the dates would be e-mailed round.

Flooding Alleviation Work

The Chair confirmed that a detailed update would be provided at the meeting in December.  Cllr Sheppard was thanked for leading on this issue on behalf of the Select Commission.

Councillor Denise Lelliott, Cabinet Member for Jobs and the Local Economy introduced the update on the development, approval and delivery of the Rotherham Employment and Skills Strategy 2019-25. The Strategy had been approved by the Rotherham Together Partnership (RTP) in April 2019 and endorsed by Cabinet in June 2019.  Implementation had begun, overseen by the Employment and Skills sub-group of the Business Growth Board, although delivery of the required activities involved a much wider range of partners.  A mid-point review would be undertaken and the plan would be monitored on a six-monthly basis, with the results reported to the Rotherham Together Partnership Board and the Council.

Simeon Leach, Economic Strategy and Partnerships Manager, Simon Moss, Assistant Director Planning, Regeneration & Transport and Ian Goodall, Chair of the Employment and Skills sub-group of the Business Growth Board were present to provide more detail for Members.

The strategy had four strategic outcomes:-

1)    Motivated Young People have opportunities to access the guidance, learning and development they need to further their chosen career path.

2)    Employment provides opportunities for in-work health, well-being, skills progression and a decent level of pay.

3)    Those excluded from the labour market are able to overcome barriers to training and employment.

4)    Businesses are actively engaged in delivering training opportunities and recognise the benefits of investing in their workforce.

Members were updated with regard to progress on mapping and identifying existing employment and skills provision within the borough; development of a more detailed delivery plan; schools’ involvement with the Business Growth Board; and the launch of Skills Bank 2 and Skills Support for the Workforce to provide funding for businesses to train and upskill their existing workforce. It was a question of linking up the entire activity taking place, establishing the baseline and filling the gaps. Progress had been slightly slower than envisaged but the onus was on doing it right.

When the draft strategy had been considered by the Overview and Scrutiny Management Board (OSMB) during pre-decision scrutiny a number of issues had been raised by Members and the report set out a response to each of these issues. The Equality Analysis had been updated and although a more detailed action plan was being developed this was likely to be in Quarter 1 of 2020.

The following issues were raised and discussed:-

·       What was meant by “a decent level of pay” as referred to in the outcomes?

- The Living Wage would probably be the baseline, but this would be looked at and there was a need also to consider links with the Social Value Policy currently under development.

·       Barriers to employment or training such as lack of photographic identification or access to bank accounts was an issue for people of all ages not only young people.
- This had been recognised and the Local Integration Board, who looked at specific aspects that impacted on people securing training/employment opportunities, were aware of this and working to address it.  Feedback would be provided.

·       The strategy referred to 3.7%  ...  view the full minutes text for item 23.

To consider any item which the Chair is of the opinion should be considered as a matter of urgency.

There was no urgent business to report.

The next meeting of the Improving Places Select Commission will take place on 24^th October, 2019 commencing at 1.30 p.m. in Rotherham Town Hall.

Resolved:-  That the next meeting of the Improving Places Select Commission take place on Thursday, 24^th October, 2019, commencing at 1.30 p.m.