Issue - meetings

Purpose of Report

To present the Executive with recommendations from the Community Leadership Scrutiny Committee following its review into inclusive growth.

Decision

That the Community Leadership Scrutiny Committee’s recommendations following its review into inclusive growth be supported.

Alternative Options Considered and Rejected

The Executive could have opted not to support one or more of the Community Leadership Scrutiny Committee’s recommendations.

Reason for Decision

Councillor Bob Bushell, Chair of the Community Leadership Scrutiny Committee, provided the Executive with a presentation on a review undertaken by the Committee in respect of inclusive growth.

The review considered inclusive growth from both a supply and demand perspective. Representatives from the University of Lincoln, the Council’s Revenues and Benefits Service, the Department for Work and Pensions, Lincoln College, Linkage Community Trust, the Education Business Partnership, the Bailgate Guild, Voluntary Centre Services and Tesco all participated at meetings of the Committee which contributed to the final recommendations. In addition, the Lincoln Growth Conference included a workshop with businesses on the topic of inclusive growth. The findings from this workshop were also considered at the final Committee meeting of the review.

The report set out the key findings from the supply and demand perspective, setting out a number of challenges and opportunities. These were set out in paragraph 4 of the report.

The Executive noted the Community Leadership Scrutiny Committee’s recommendations as follows:

Supply

(1)       That the Council works with The Network to:

-       review/establish referral mechanisms between Lincolnshire Move Partnership (which helps people aged 16+ move into employment) and The Network (which helps people aged 16-24 with advice and guidance including on training and employment);

-       identify referral opportunities between The Network, Lincolnshire Move Partnership and Linkage Community Trust (a Lincolnshire based charity helping people with learning difficulties on a range of topics, including employment);

-       identify how the key sectors important to economic growth in the city are targeted.

(2)       That the Council continues to support the Living Wage and promote the emerging Corporate Social Responsibility Charter.

(3)       That the Council seeks out funding opportunities to expand the offer of employability courses currently provided by the authority with Health and Wellbeing Board funding and delivered through Lincoln College. These offer free courses to low income households to upskill and secure employment.

(4)       That the Council continues to support young people to gain practical skills through supporting the National Citizens Service workshops and providing work experience placements.

Demand

(5)       That the Council begins a discussion with key strategic partners in the city to identify any similarities in investment priorities in Lincoln, and explore opportunities to pool or co-ordinate resources to deliver on shared agendas that continue to make Lincoln a great place to live, work and enjoy;

(6)       That the findings of this inclusive growth review be considered in any future economic or industrial strategies produced by the Council. For example, this could include supporting initiatives that may help people work flexibly around childcare responsibilities.

(7)       That the Department for Work and Pensions have a discussion  ...  view the full minutes text for item 3