Planning and Economic Development Portfolio

To consider report PES/313 of the Head of Economy and Planning, which was referred to the meeting of the Overview and Scrutiny Commission on 11 March 2019.

The Cabinet Member for planning and Economic Development presented report PES/313 of the Head of Economy and Planning, which provided an update on the success of the original Employment and Skills Programme, which was started in 2016, including Employ Crawley, Town Centre Skills Academy Crawley Developer and Partner Charter Crawley STEMfest and that the Council has employed nine apprenticeships during the period. It was noted that Employ Crawley was seen as one of the greatest success with over 300 residents having received support interventions. The report also present the proposed programme going forward to 2024 including the creation of the building/ construction Skills Academy.

Councillor T Belben presented the Overview and Scrutiny Commission’s comments on the report to the Cabinet following consideration of the matter at its meeting on 11 March 2019, including their the Commission support for the Employment and Skills Programme especially the links with Crawley College over devising professional skills courses and the promotion of the Apprentice schemes across the Borough.

Councillors Lamb Skudder and Thomas also spoke as part of the discussion on the report.

RESOLVED

The Cabinet approves

a)         approves the draft Employment and Skills Programme 2019-2024 shown in Appendix A to report PES/313

b)         delegates authority to the Head of Economy and Planning in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Planning and Economic Development to (generic delegations 5 and 7 will be used to enact this recommendation):

i)      the final Employment and Skills Programme 2019-2024, noting and considering any responses or representations received during the present period of stakeholder consultation;

ii)     the regular update the Employment and Skills Programme 2019-2024 to take into account the delivery details of the individual projects listed within it, as they come forward;

Reasons for the Recommendations

This report seeks Cabinet approval of the draft, revised Employment and Skills Programme 2019-2024.