Agenda and minutes

            The Minutes from the meeting held on 8^th June 2011, were taken as read and signed as a correct record.

            The Board was advised that no public questions had been received.

            The Board considered the minutes of the meeting of the Executive Board relevant to the Employment Learning Skills and Community portfolio since the last meeting of the Board.

            RESOLVED: That the minutes be noted.

            The Board received the minutes of the Employment Learning and Skills Specialist Strategic Partnership meeting from the 22^nd August 2011.

            In relation to the Single Work Programme Update, the Board requested that electronic copies of the organisations respective delivery models be circulated to Members of the Employment, Learning, Skills and Community PPB.

            RESOLVED: That the minutes be noted.

To receive a presentation on the contribution to employment learning and skills in the borough.

            The Board received a presentation from Kevin Smith – Vice Principal: Adults, Skills and Enterprise from Riverside College which set out the following:

• 6262 students had enrolled for 2011/2012;
• £18 million was spent last year educating school leavers, residents and employees in the Borough;
• There were four campuses: Kingsway Centre – Vocational ‘ Young Professionals’, Cronton 6^th Form – A levels, level 3 & Sport, Runcorn Centre – Skills, Enterprise and Employer Engagement and Astmoor Centre – Construction trades;
• Employment, Learning and Skills aims and objectives;
• Riverside College aims and objectives;
• Recent Ofsted results – Remarkable progress;
• Added Value – No. 1 in government sub regional tables for progress made whilst at Riverside;
• Target and growth of student numbers 2011/2012;
• Details of Higher Education; and
• Priorities and the shared agenda with the Employment Learning, Skills and Community Board.

Arising from the presentation the following points were noted:

• Achievements to date were excellent, particularly the best in England  A level results which were physics, combined English and sociology;
• Links could be formed with the Heath and Daresbury Laboratory in relation to science and the possibility of apprenticeships;
• Concerns were raised with regard to proposals of secondary schools forming their own 6^th forms and there no longer being a need for facilities at Riverside; and
• There was a high percentage of adults in the Borough who did not have level 1 education, schemes to improve this could be investigated.

The Chairman thanked Kevin Smith for an informative presentation.

            RESOLVED: That the presentation be noted.

   The Board considered a report of the Strategic Director, Children and Enterprise which sought endorsement of the new Children & Young People’s (CYP) Plan 2011-14. It was reported that the CYP Plan had been endorsed at Executive Board and Full Council in July 2011.

The Board was advised that Halton’s first Children & Young People’s Plan (CYPP) had been published in 2006, covering a three year period to 2009.  The second CYPP for Halton had been published in 2009 and had ran until 31  March 2011.

It was reported that the Coalition Government had announced in July 2010 its intention to reform Children’s Trusts.  The proposals had come into force from 31 October 2010.

         It was further reported that following the announcement of the reforms, the future of Halton’s Children’s Trust had been discussed at both the Children’s Trust Board and Executive Group.  At both meetings there had been a universal agreement from all partners for the Trust to continue in its current format, as the overarching multi agency body that contained all children & young people’s services in Halton.  This reflected the breadth and strength of partnership working across the children & young people’s agenda in Halton, as well universal understanding of the need to continue to work in partnership in the challenging economic climate currently faced. 

         It was further noted, with agreement to continue the Children’s Trust arrangements came the need for a new Children and Young People’s Plan to provide a strategic direction. The new  CYPP for Halton had been developed within the Children’s Trust for a three year period from 2011-14.  Through consultation, the new priorities for the Children’s Trust have been agreed as:

·  Improve outcomes for children and young people through embedding integrated processes to deliver early help and support;

·  Improve outcomes for children and young people through effective joint commissioning; and

·  Improve outcomes for our most vulnerable children and young people by targeting services effectively.

Members were advised the focus on Safeguarding would continue to be a key theme for the Trust across the priorities and the CYPP was based around the priorities noted above.

RESOLVED: That the Board endorse the Children & Young People’s Plan 2011-14.

            The Board considered a report of the Strategic Director, Policy and Resources on the Performance Management reports for quarter 1 of 2011/12. Members were requested to consider and raise any questions or points of clarification in respect of the performance management report against service plan objectives and performance targets, performance trends, comparisons and factors affecting the service for:

·        Enterprise and Employment in Adult Learning and Skills Development; and

·        Community Services namely, Library Services and other Culture and Leisure Services.

Members were advised there had been a slight change to the milestones and indicators to reflect the wider business of the department as these had changed since the original service plans had been developed. The performance sub group had revisited the milestones and indicators so they were relevant for the current time and the future.

The following comments arose from the discussion:

·        In relation to the Science Halton Group, Members felt improvement should be made to the lack of engagement from Skills for the Science Technology and Advanced Manufacturing in relation to adapting the post 16 curriculum. It was noted that this was a matter of priorities and would be investigated further; and

·        With regard to recruitment the Board felt it would be useful for some case studies to be brought to a future meeting to provide an update, figures of how many management, food operatives and bar staff posts at the Hive would also be beneficial;

            RESOLVED: That the quarterly monitoring report and comments raised be noted.

            The Board considered a report of the Strategic Director Children and Enterprise which provided a progress report on the delivery of the Work Programme in Halton.

            It was reported that the Work Programme aimed to provide a single, personalised welfare to work programme for all customer groups, regardless of the benefit they claim. It had replaced many national programmes previously on offer and they had now been phased out with the work programme commencing in 2011.

            The Board was advised that the Work Programme gave providers longer to work with customers and greater freedom to decide the appropriate support for them. Work programme providers were required to deliver an individually tailored service for each customer which could last up to two years (the “allotted time” for this service would be 104 weeks). It was further noted that this often provided the opportunity to deliver a flexible and personalised work package of support and the change to improve people’s lives through sustainable employment.

            Set out in the report for information were the provisions that would be delivered for customers including A4e and Ingeus.

            It was further reported that the delivery of the Work Programme contributed to employment learning and skills key priorities contained in the Halton Sustainable Communities Strategy and the Liverpool City Region Employment and Skills Strategy. In addition, the work of Halton People into Jobs in delivering the Work Programme also contributed to performance against National Indicators relating to employment, enterprise and learning.

            Members agreed to receive 6 monthly update reports on the Single Work Programme.

                        RESOLVED: That

            (1)       the progress report be noted; and

            (2)       the Board agree to receive bi-annually updates on the Work Programme.

            The Board received a report of the Strategic Director, Children and Enterprise which provided an update on the scrutiny topic “Impact of Deficit Policy on Employment Learning and Skills in Halton”.

It was reported that for the Municipal Year 2010/11, Members proposed that a scrutiny topic group should consider assessing the impact of the Government’s deficit policy on Employment Learning and Skills in Halton. The Topic Group had been chaired by Councillor Lloyd Jones, Councillors Austin Howard and McManus were also members of the group. It was reported that much of the early work of the Group was dependent of the outcome of the Government’s Spending Review which was announced at the end of October 2010.

It was further reported that the group had considered the Government’s deficit policy would have an impact on the wider range of initiatives and measures in Halton but that it was important to remain focussed on issues that would be of specific relevance to this Board.

The group carried out an initial assessment of emerging Government policy relating to the Employment, Learning and Skills (ELS) agenda and an overview of the ELS policies that the Scrutiny Topic Group considered was appended to the report for information.

Arising from the discussion of the report Members suggested further involvement with local employers be taken to encourage them to engage with college students and provide relative work experience.  In response it was noted that this would be investigated. In addition the Board agreed to receive an progress update report in six months time.

RESOLVED: That

1)     the information gathered to date be noted; and

2)     a progress report be brought to the Board in six months time.