Meeting documents

Place Scrutiny Committee
Monday, 25th November, 2013 6.30 pm

The Cabinet Minutes

Date:
Tuesday, 5th November, 2013
Time:
14:00
Place:
Civic Suite, Civic Centre, Southend-on-Sea
 

Attendance Details

ItemDescriptionResolution
Part I
452 The Need for a Southend Skills Strategy
Scrutiny Comment for item 452
Business for item 452
Resolved:-

1. That a new borough-wide skills strategy be developed linking education provision at all levels with the business requirements of today and the future (The strategy should complement the South East Local Enterprise Partnership Skills Strategy (SELEP) and Whole Essex Community Budgets (WECB) to maximise the opportunities they present and ensure consistent messaging. It should also exploit the freedoms and flexibilities on offer through the Southend City Deal. The Strategy will include feedback and monitoring).

2. That work awareness/employment opportunity knowledge in primary schools be further developed to stimulate awareness of the local economy, the jobs available and the skills required at a younger age to help inform student choices.

3. That a network of employers be developed to deliver information about skills opportunities to primary schools in Southend, to help raise awareness of different employment opportunities available in the labour market, not just locally but also the wider area. In addition, to continue to raise the aspiration of primary school children and parents/carers of children in Southend schools.

4. That to enable secondary school students to benefit from wider careers development advice, teachers engage with work awareness/knowledge of employment opportunities in order that alternative routes into further and higher education such as employment are presented and that key future opportunities, such as the Anglia Ruskin MedTech Campus, are prepared for (Regardless of the secondary school, all are able to access the opportunity to engage with employers).

5. That Southend-on-Sea Borough Council continues to work with WECB and lobbies to change funding methodology.

6. That Sector Skills Councils should take a more proactive role in sharing information with providers and employers to address the gap in communication and assist with the profiling of future skills needs/areas of predicted economic growth.

7. That increased awareness be made of higher apprenticeship opportunities as an alternative route to university.

8. That Southend-on-Sea Borough Council works with Essex County Council to investigate the possibility of setting up a studio school linked with London Southend Airport to increase the employment opportunities for young people in Southend and the Thames Gateway area. The studio school would not solely focus on aviation engineering but would also include the wider skills associated within the aviation sector.

Recommended:-

9. That Southend-on-Sea Borough Council reintroduces the 14-19 strategic partnership group, with clear terms of reference focused on the development of a curriculum which meets the needs of local employers, growth sectors and young people. Membership of 14-19 strategic partnership group will include representatives from businesses, Sector Skills Councils, further/higher education, secondary schools, Work-Based Learning providers and Local Authority representatives.

Reasons for Decision

To progress the development of a Southend Skills Strategy.

Other Options

None.

Note:- The decisions in 1-8 above constitute an Executive Function. The decision in 9 above constitutes a Council Function.
Eligible for call in to People Scrutiny Committee and Place Scrutiny Committee.
Executive Councillors: Courtenay and Lamb
This matter had previously been subject to pre-Cabinet scrutiny.
*Called in to:- People Scrutiny Committee and Place Scrutiny Committee
14:00/15:50

Attendance Details

Present:
Councillor N Holdcroft (Chairman),
Councillors J I Courtenay, T Cox, J M Garston, D J Jarvis, J L Lamb, A J Moring, L P Salter.
In attendance:
R Tinlin, J Williams, S Leftley, A Lewis, A Atherton, J Chesterton, J Ruffle and C Gamble.

Also present: Councillors Assenheim, Chalk, Crystall, Godwin, Hadley, Lewin, McMahon, Stafford and Woodley.

Scrutiny Comment

ItemComment
452 Called in by Councillors M Terry and R Woodley.
Final call on 14/11/2013 at 14:53
Resolved:

1. That the following decisions of Cabinet be noted:

"1. That a new borough-wide skills strategy be developed linking education provision at all levels with the business requirements of today and the future (The strategy should complement the South East Local Enterprise Partnership Skills Strategy (SELEP) and Whole Essex Community Budgets (WECB) to maximise the opportunities they present and ensure consistent messaging. It should also exploit the freedoms and flexibilities on offer through the Southend City Deal. The Strategy will include feedback and monitoring).

2. That work awareness/employment opportunity knowledge in primary schools be further developed to stimulate awareness of the local economy, the jobs available and the skills required at a younger age to help inform student choices.

3. That a network of employers be developed to deliver information about skills opportunities to primary schools in Southend, to help raise awareness of different employment opportunities available in the labour market, not just locally but also the wider area. In addition, to continue to raise the aspiration of primary school children and parents/carers of children in Southend schools.

4. That to enable secondary school students to benefit from wider careers development advice, teachers engage with work awareness/knowledge of employment opportunities in order that alternative routes into further and higher education such as employment are presented and that key future opportunities, such as the Anglia Ruskin MedTech Campus, are prepared for (Regardless of the secondary school, all are able to access the opportunity to engage with employers).

5. That Southend-on-Sea Borough Council continues to work with WECB and lobbies to change funding methodology.

6. That Sector Skills Councils should take a more proactive role in sharing information with providers and employers to address the gap in communication and assist with the profiling of future skills needs/areas of predicted economic growth.

7. That increased awareness be made of higher apprenticeship opportunities as an alternative route to university.

8. That Southend-on-Sea Borough Council works with Essex County Council to investigate the possibility of setting up a studio school linked with London Southend Airport to increase the employment opportunities for young people in Southend and the Thames Gateway area. The studio school would not solely focus on aviation engineering but would also include the wider skills associated within the aviation sector."

2. That the following recommendation of Cabinet be noted:

"9 That Southend-on-Sea Borough Council reintroduces the 14-19 strategic partnership group, with clear terms of reference focused on the development of a curriculum which meets the needs of local employers, growth sectors and young people. Membership of 14-19 strategic partnership group will include representatives from businesses, Sector Skills Councils, further/higher education, secondary schools, Work-Based Learning providers and Local Authority representatives."

Note:- The decisions in 1-8 above constitute an Executive Function. The decision in 9 above constitutes a Council Function.

Executive Councillors: Courtenay and Lamb
This matter had previously been the subject of pre-Cabinet scrutiny (Minute 324 refers).
Resolved:-

1. That the following decisions of Cabinet be noted:

"1. That a new borough-wide skills strategy be developed linking education provision at all levels with the business requirements of today and the future (The strategy should complement the South East Local Enterprise Partnership Skills Strategy (SELEP) and Whole Essex Community Budgets (WECB) to maximise the opportunities they present and ensure consistent messaging. It should also exploit the freedoms and flexibilities on offer through the Southend City Deal. The Strategy will include feedback and monitoring).

2. That work awareness/employment opportunity knowledge in primary schools be further developed to stimulate awareness of the local economy, the jobs available and the skills required at a younger age to help inform student choices.

3. That a network of employers be developed to deliver information about skills opportunities to primary schools in Southend, to help raise awareness of different employment opportunities available in the labour market, not just locally but also the wider area. In addition, to continue to raise the aspiration of primary school children and parents/carers of children in Southend schools.

4. That to enable secondary school students to benefit from wider careers development advice, teachers engage with work awareness/knowledge of employment opportunities in order that alternative routes into further and higher education such as employment are presented and that key future opportunities, such as the Anglia Ruskin MedTech Campus, are prepared for (Regardless of the secondary school, all are able to access the opportunity to engage with employers).

5. That Southend-on-Sea Borough Council continues to work with WECB and lobbies to change funding methodology.

6. That Sector Skills Councils should take a more proactive role in sharing information with providers and employers to address the gap in communication and assist with the profiling of future skills needs/areas of predicted economic growth.

7. That increased awareness be made of higher apprenticeship opportunities as an alternative route to university.

8. That Southend-on-Sea Borough Council works with Essex County Council to investigate the possibility of setting up a studio school linked with London Southend Airport to increase the employment opportunities for young people in Southend and the Thames Gateway area. The studio school would not solely focus on aviation engineering but would also include the wider skills associated within the aviation sector."

2. That the following recommendation of Cabinet be noted:-

"9 That Southend-on-Sea Borough Council reintroduces the 14-19 strategic partnership group, with clear terms of reference focused on the development of a curriculum which meets the needs of local employers, growth sectors and young people. Membership of 14-19 strategic partnership group will include representatives from businesses, Sector Skills Councils, further/higher education, secondary schools, Work-Based Learning providers and Local Authority representatives."

Note:- The decisions in 1-8 above constitute an Executive Function. The decision in 9 above constitutes a Council Function.
Executive Councillors: Courtenay and Lamb
This matter had previously been subject to pre-Cabinet scrutiny on 8th October 2013 (Minute 339 refers).

Business

ItemBusiness
452The Cabinet considered a joint report of the Corporate Director for People and Corporate Director for Place providing an update on the delivery of skills, education and training in Southend for young people and adults and proposed significant actions to further improve the development of opportunities for local residents.

 

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