Agenda item

Future Jobs Fund

(Cabinet Member with Special Responsibility Councillor Abbott Bryning)

 

Report of Corporate Director (Regeneration)

Minutes:

(Cabinet Member with Special Responsibility Councillor Bryning)

 

The Corporate Director (Regeneration) submitted a report informing Members about the Future Jobs Fund, a government initiative which aimed to create new, short term jobs for people approaching 12 months unemployment. The report outlined the background to the submission of a joint bid into the Fund by Mid-Lancashire local authorities, sought Cabinet endorsement of the bid and approval for the Council to support the scheme by identifying suitable job opportunities.  The report also sought Cabinet approval to develop proposals regarding apprenticeships and work placements.

 

The options, options analysis, including risk assessment and officer preferred option, were set out in the report as follows:

 

 

Option

Advantages

Disadvantages

Risk

1.  Do not support the bid and take no further action

 

Job opportunities for a vulnerable group in Lancaster District remain limited;

Partnership based on Mid-Lancs grouping undermined

 

No financial risk

 

Possible impact on fledgling Mid-Lancashire partnership

2.  Support the bid and seek job creation proposals from local third sector organisations (eg social enterprises)

City Council seen as supporter of employment initiative;

New job opportunities identified for (mainly) young disadvantaged jobseekers;

Demonstrates support for cost-effective Mid-Lancashire partnership working

Economic Development staff time (estimated at 5% fte, mainly through Principal Economic Development Officer) required in programme development and implementation

No financial risk

 

Risk of limited job opportunities being identified – current level of interest indicates this risk is low

3.  Support the bid and:

i) encourage participation in the programme by City Council Services

ii) underpin work with Jobcentre Plus through a Local Employment Partnership agreement

iii) identify apprenticeship/work experience opportunities within City Council Services and develop joint proposals with Lancashire County Council

As above plus:

Identification of additional public sector job opportunities;

City Council seen as active supporter of employment initiatives  which complement its role in the LDLSP ESO Thematic Group and its LDLSP-funded worklessness project

As above plus:

additional staff time in those Services creating additional jobs through proposal development and management of the participants in the programme (value indeterminate at this stage but it should be noted that this ’cost’ would be offset by the benefits arising from the additional jobs funded through the Future Jobs Fund).

See Financial Implications, as set out in the report, for details

 

 

 

 

Option 3 is the officer preferred option since this provides benefits by:

1.      maintaining City Council support for the bid already submitted, enabling the earliest possible start in job availability

2.      enhancing the number of job opportunities within the programme

3.      enabling direct City Council involvement in the Scheme through the creation of additional jobs meeting the Scheme criteria

4.      enabling, through centralised administration, the cost effective implementation of the Scheme

5.      demonstrating the value of partnership working within the emergent Mid-Lancashire grouping

 

It was moved by Councillor Bryning and seconded by Councillor Ashworth:-

 

“That the recommendations, as set out in the report, be approved.”

 

Members then voted:-

 

Resolved unanimously:

 

(1)        That Cabinet notes the report.

 

(2)       That Cabinet endorses the Mid-Lancashire Future Jobs Fund bid, under which Lancashire County Council will act as Accountable Body, and the actions taken by officers to ensure the bid could meet the earliest deadline of 30th June 2009.

 

(3)       That Cabinet supports and encourages the active involvement of City Council Services in the Future Jobs Fund through identification of new job opportunities which meet Future Jobs Fund criteria on the basis that that there is no net additional cost to the Council and authorise the Head of Financial Services to update the General Fund Revenue Budget as and when applicable.

 

(4)       That Cabinet supports and authorises officers:

i)          to develop and, if appropriate, finalise a Local Employment Partnership agreement with Jobcentre Plus

ii)         to develop joint proposals with Lancashire County Council regarding apprenticeships and work placements for consideration at a future Cabinet meeting.

 

Officers responsible for effecting the decision:

 

Corporate Director (Regeneration)

Head of Economic Development and Tourism

Head of Financial Services

 

Reasons for making the decision:

 

The decision allows Lancaster City Council to maintain its support for the bid already submitted, enabling the earliest possible start in job availability plus the other benefits outlined in option 3, above.

 

 

Supporting documents: