Agenda and draft minutes

To receive apologies for absence and to note the attendance of any substitute members.

Apologies were received from Cllr Barnard, Frost and Thompson

Members are asked to declare any disclosable pecuniary or affected interests and the nature of that interest, including the existence and nature of the party whip, in respect of any matter to be considered at this meeting. Any Member with a Disclosable Pecuniary Interest in a matter should withdraw from the meeting when the matter is under consideration and should notify the Democratic Services Officer in attendance that they are withdrawing as they have such an interest. If the Disclosable Pecuniary Interest is not entered on the register of Members interests the Monitoring Officer must be notified of the interest within 28 days. Any Member with an Affected Interest in a matter must disclose the interest to the meeting. There is no requirement to withdraw from the meeting when the interest is only an affected interest, but the Monitoring Officer should be notified of the interest, if not previously notified of it, within 28 days of the meeting.

Cllr Smith declared an affected interest as his wife worked for a school in the borough.

To receive submissions from members of the public which have been submitted in advance in accordance with the Council’s Public Participation Scheme for Overview and Scrutiny.

No submissions had been made by members of the public under the Council’s Public Participation Scheme for Overview and Scrutiny.

The Chair of the Education and Skills Panel will provide a summary of the transition review. Members of the Education Skills and growth Overview and Scrutiny panel will discuss the review recommendations and report. The agreed recommendations and report will be presented at the next Overview and Scrutiny Commission on 27 February 2025.

The chair of the Education skills and growth panel provided a brief overview of the review into transition from education to employment.  A recap of each recommendation developed from the review was provided.

Recommendation 3 was discussed and it was agreed to propose an increase of level 1 and 2 apprenticeships to 150.  This was based on current demand and would be reviewed in 12 months. 

The following recommendations were then voted on:

1.         The Cabinet invites the principal of Garth Hill College and local skills partners to develop a forum between head teachers, heads of sixth forms and sixth form careers leads.  The goal of this forum is to facilitate collaboration and sharing of information and ideas relating to careers and opportunities for young people transitioning from education to employment.

Review in 6 months.

2.         If recommendation 1 is approved and implemented, and a forum is developed, the Elevate team should present an annual report to the forum highlighting destination data for those in years 12 and 13. This would highlight how many young people are Not in Education Employment or Training (NEET) across the borough, to inform and develop ways to continue to reduce these numbers. 

Review in 6 months.

3.         That the skills hub be supported to continue to increase engagement with local companies to provide greater numbers of apprenticeships to meet demand, specifically to increase the provision of level 1 and 2 apprenticeships to 150, based on the current need identified. That a performance update is published on a 6 monthly basis and also shared with the re-developed forum as per recommendation 1. This recommendation is dependent on the extension of the funding for the skills hub beyond March 2025.

Review in 12 months.

4.         That the cabinet ensures communication to each school, relating to the value of developing and keeping an up-to-date register of companies offering work experience.  They should ensure that schools are aware that Learning to Work can help manage placements for local schools.  This recommendation can be monitored through feedback from the forum proposed in recommendation 1.

Review in 12 months

RESOLVED – unanimous votes were received for all recommendations and they would be presented to the Overview and Scrutiny commission for approval on 27 February 2025.