Democracy in Crawley

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Decision details

Social Mobility Scrutiny Panel Final Report

Decision Maker: Cabinet

Decision status: Recommendations Approved

Is Key decision?: Yes

Is subject to call in?: No

Purpose:

The Social Mobility Scrutiny Panel was established to “investigate the state of social mobility within the borough and practical steps which can be taken to ensure that a child’s outcomes are no longer capped “by those of their parents”.

Its purpose was to analyse, review and understand a local (and national) perspective on the extent of the problem, together with the main challenges in delivering greater social mobility and practical steps which can be taken by Crawley Borough Council and other organisations to improve the life chances of those growing up in Crawley

The report documents the Panel’s findings together with any developing outcomes within the Council which may assist in steering or influencing service priorities, whilst also reviewing any partnership working and identifying any improvements.

Decisions:

The Chair of Social Mobility Scrutiny Panel, presented report OSC/276, which contains the Social Mobility Scrutiny Panel’s finding from their review into social mobility within Crawley. Councillor Sudan informed the Cabinet that the review was set up following Crawley being ranked as the worst in the South East, for social mobility by the Government’s Social Mobility Commission. The Panel focused on three areas of social mobility, education, housing and employment and across its five meetings considered evidence from Headteachers, the Cabinet Member for Education and Skills at West Sussex CC, individuals from Open House and officers from the Council’s Housings and Economy and Planning divisions, along with other quantitative evidence.

 

The key finding arising from the reviews included the seeming need for the continuation of Alternative Provision Service for those past the age of 16 to cover those people still in full time education, the expansion of Employ Crawley following it initial success, and where possible a 'tenure blind' approach to housing design.

 

Councillor T Belben presented the Overview and Scrutiny Commission’s comments of support and their endorsement of the Panel’s findings.

 

In considering the report the Councillors P. Smith, Thomas and Lamb all spoke as part of the discussion on the Panel’s report. Councillor P. Smith commented that he as the Cabinet Member that was responsible for many of the areas covered by the review, that he was happy to endorse and enact the Panel recommendation that were related to his remit.

 

 

RESOLVED

 

The Cabinet approves:

 

a)         General; put forward suggestions to the Social Mobility Commission on how the social mobility index can be further improved e.g. including information about residents who have relocated out of the local authority area following periods of further education.

b)         Housing; continue to support the Council’s commitment to building social housing.

c)         Housing; that consideration be given to a 'tenure blind' approach to housing design wherever possible.

d)         Employment; recognise and continue to support the good work that is taking place with the Council’s Employment and Skills Plan.

e)         Employment; that, as part of the Employment and Skills Plan, consideration be given for bringing training providers together to embark upon a solution for adult learning and re-training (adult education).

f)          Employment; that, as part of the Employment and Skills Plan, further work be undertaken with the ‘Information and Advice Group’ (IAG) to engage with junior children and careers advice, particularly on how to access pathways.

g)         Employment; that, as part of the Employment and Skills Plan, support additional funding opportunities to expand Employ Crawley.

h)         Employment: that the Head of Legal, Democracy and HR, on behalf of the Council, give consideration to the Council becoming a Social Mobility Employer through the Social Mobility Foundation.

i)          Education; that the Leader, on behalf of the Council, request WSCC to further consider that the Alternative Provision Service continues past the age of 16.

j)          Education; that the Leader, on behalf of the Council, request WSCC to further consider that the Access and Exclusion Team resources could be involved at an earlier stage.

k)         Education; that consideration be given to incorporating careers advice into the Junior Citizen Scheme run by the Council.

l)          Education; that the Council continues to support the ‘Be the Change’ initiative.

m)       Education; that the Council continues to support Crawley College in building closer co-operation with local employers, to help develop skills pathways into better paid jobs for more Crawley residents.

n)         Education; that further promotion should take place with regards to Free School Meals (FSM), as this benefits both pupils and schools. Schools receive additional funding from the government for each child registered for FSM.

 

Reasons for the Recommendations

 

To address some of the concerns around the low level of social mobility within the town. These are practical steps that can be taken by the Council, and other relevant organisations, to improve the life chances of those growing up in Crawley. 

 

Report author: Chris Harris

Publication date: 23/10/2019

Date of decision: 13/03/2019

Decided at meeting: 13/03/2019 - Cabinet

Accompanying Documents: