Agenda item

25/00046 - Get Kent & Medway Working Plan

Minutes:

  1. Mr King and Mr Samson, Head of Economy, introduced the report and gave an overview of the Government- funded joint plan that was under development with Medway Council, the Integrated Care Board and Jobcentre Plus. An overview was provided of the challenges and opportunities related to health conditions, economic inactivity and skills. The report also highlighted the data- driven approach to address the needs of those with long- term health conditions, caring responsibilities and young people classified as NEET (Not in Education, Employment or Training).
  2. In response to comments and questions from guests and Members the discussion covered the following:
  • Mr Samson detailed the strategy to support employers into engaging with schools as a work in progress and acknowledged the higher proportion of home- educated students in Kent than in other local authority areas, who may be possibly missing out on careers education.
  • Connect to Work had recently been launched to support 9,000 people across Kent and Medway into work through supported employment.
  • As part of the plan to address barriers to employment, a cohesive approach that integrated work experience throughout the school process to increase student and employer interaction was being developed nationally.
  • Factors to explain variation in employment statistics between districts were identified e.g. student population, elderly residents etc.
  • Success indicators for this plan would include a reduction in economically inactive residents and an increase in secure employment and training opportunities.
  • It was acknowledged that coastal and certain rural areas were disproportionately affected by low employment rates due in part to poor transport links.
  • The Plan was commissioned by the Department for Work and Pensions and resource was required to deliver it. The Connect to Work programme and the Skills Bootcamp programme would contribute to meeting some of the objectives set out in the plan.
  1. RESOLVED to endorse the proposed decision by the Cabinet Member for Economic Development and Coastal Regeneration to:
  • APPROVE and ADOPT the Get Kent and Medway Working Plan on behalf of Kent County Council. Other partner organisations (Medway Council, the Kent & Medway Integrated Care Board and Jobcentre Plus) will also be taking the Plan through their own approval processes.
  • DELEGATE authority to the Director of Growth & Communities in consultation with the Director for Public Health; Corporate Director for Children, Young People & Education; Cabinet Member for Economic Development and Coastal Regeneration; Page 69 Cabinet Member for Adult Social Care & Public Health; and Cabinet Member for Education & Skills to sign off the final plan.
  • DELEGATE authority to the Director of Growth & Communities in consultation with the Director for Public Health; Corporate Director for Children, Young People & Education; the Cabinet Member for Economic Development and Coastal Regeneration; Cabinet Member for Adult Social Care & Public Health; and Cabinet Member for Education & Skills to refresh and/or make revisions to the Plan as appropriate during the lifetime of the plan.
  • DELEGATE authority to the Director Growth & Communities in consultation with the Director for Public Health, and Corporate Director for Children, Young People & Education to take relevant actions, including but not limited to finalising the terms of, and entering into required contract or other legal agreements, as necessary to implement the decision as shown at Appendix A

 

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