Issue - meetings

The Board considered a report from the Executive Director – Environment and Regeneration, which provided an overview of the current services provided by Halton People into Jobs (HPIJ).

HPIJ had successfully delivered a range of DWP Welfare to Work Programmes since 2011, including the Work Programme, Ways to Work, the Work and Health Programme, JETS and more recently the Work and Health Programme Pioneer Support Programme.  It was noted that all of these programmes had supported unemployed Halton residents with looking for and sustaining employment.  Further, recent funding streams continued to focus more on engaging with and supporting Economically Inactive residents into work and helping those ‘at risk’ of redundancy.

          Members also received an update on current funding streams and information on the requirement for HPIJ to secure future funding, to sustain the service it provided to Halton’s residents.

          Board Members were disappointed to learn and raised concerns about the uncertainty of the future of the HPIJ service, due to the imminent cessation of funding of Restart, Pioneer and the Work and Health Programme, where referrals to these had already stopped.  The following information was provided in response to Members’ challenge:

·       HPIJ was not a statutory service and had to generate income to cover 100% of overall costs;

·       One Member suggested contacting the Halton Foundation for support for individuals that may require funding;

·       It was estimated that approximately 6 months funding was required to keep the service operating as it was currently, to allow time for future funding to be identified and secured;

·       The HPIJ service had huge social value in the community and to lose it would have a knock on effect on other Council services;

·       A number of staff at HPIJ would be placed ‘at risk’ of redundancy unless any future funding was confirmed; and

·       Members were reassured that every effort was being made to work with the LCR to secure funding beyond March 2025.

The Board commented that they would support the lobbying of the LCR to make interim funding available so that the service could continue; and to secure future funding.  The HPIJ provided a valuable service to many of Halton’s residents and Members recognised the challenging work carried out by the staff over the years and the continued successful results.

On behalf of the Board, the Chair passed on thanks to all the staff at HPIJ and commented that their experience in carrying out their duties was of huge value to the Council and the clients they dealt with.

RESOLVED:  That the report is noted.