Issue - meetings

To consider a report of the Portfolio Holders for Children, Education, Skills and Early Help and Economic Growth, Assets and Property (joint leads).

Decision of the Portfolio Holder for Children, Education, Skill and Early Help

(a)  That a Dorset Skills Commission be created between November 2021 and September 2022

(b)  For this Commission to facilitate the skills delivery needed for an effective and at-pace response to a jobs-led approach to COVID-19 economic recovery across Dorset

(c)  That the Commission undertakes a review into the Dorset skills landscape – with a particular consideration of the National Skills White Paper, producing a report that lays out a potential skills journey and opportunities/needs based on 10-, 20- and 30-years trajectories

(d)  That the Commission works closely with the Dorset Skills Board and Panel to support immediate implementation of the wider skills priorities within the agreed Dorset Skills Plan and Dorset Investment Prospectus.

(e)  That authority be delegated to the Executive Director for Place, in consultation with the Portfolio Holder(s)for Children, Education, Skills, and Early Help and Economic Growth, Assets and Property, to agree with BCP Council and the Dorset LEP the governance structure and membership of the Board for inclusion in the Terms of Reference.

Executive Decision - Dorset Skills Commission - Dorset Council

Reason for Decision

Delivering sustainable economic growth, increasing productivity and the number of high-quality jobs in Dorset, creating great places to live, work and visit” is one of the five Corporate priorities in the Dorset Council Plan. People and Skills is one of the six foundations of the Dorset Council Economic Growth Strategy.

The establishment of a dedicated Commission will oversee an effective and at pace response to a jobs-led approach to COVID-19 economic recovery.  It would also provide an objective and independent review of the future Dorset Skills landscape, helping to shape a world-class skills and learning infrastructure for all communities

The Portfolio Holder to Children, Education, Skills and Early Help set out the report recommending the creation of a time-limited Dorset Skills Commission to oversee an “at pace” response to critical skills issues across Dorset.

He highlighted that this was work that crossed many directorates of the council and was in partnership with BCP Council. The Portfolio Holder presented his recommendations as set out in the report.

In response to comments from non-executive members, the Portfolio Holder and Chief Executive acknowledged and advised that

·      the needs of those who wished to be self-employed needed to be acknowledged and included in the Dorset Commission(s) report.

·      the difficulty of the gateway and the apprenticeship market for businesses including the necessity to encourage central government to enable this to be an easier process.

·      confirmed that currently there were approximately 300 apprenticeships across Dorset Council

Cabinet members welcomed the report and indicated their “minded to view” to support to recommendations.

Decision of the Portfolio Holder for Children, Education, Skill and Early Help

(a)       That a Dorset Skills Commission be created between November 2021 and September 2022

(b)       For this Commission to facilitate the skills delivery needed for an effective and at-pace response to a jobs-led approach to COVID-19 economic recovery across Dorset

(c)        That the Commission undertakes a review into the Dorset skills landscape – with a particular consideration of the National Skills White Paper, producing a report that lays out a potential skills journey and opportunities/needs based on 10-, 20- and 30-years trajectories

(d)       That the Commission works closely with the Dorset Skills Board and Panel to support immediate implementation of the wider skills priorities within the agreed Dorset Skills Plan and Dorset Investment Prospectus.

(e)       That authority be delegated to the Executive Director for Place, in consultation with the Portfolio Holder(s)for Children, Education, Skills, and Early Help and Economic Growth, Assets and Property, to agree with BCP Council and the Dorset LEP the governance structure and membership of the Board for inclusion in the Terms of Reference.

Executive Decision - Dorset Skills Commission - Dorset Council

Reason for Decision

Delivering sustainable economic growth, increasing productivity and the number of high-quality jobs in Dorset, creating great places to live, work and visit” is one of the five Corporate priorities in the Dorset Council Plan. People and Skills is one of the six foundations of the Dorset Council Economic Growth Strategy.

The establishment of a dedicated Commission will oversee an effective and at pace response to a jobs-led approach to COVID-19 economic recovery.  It would also provide an objective and independent review of the future Dorset Skills landscape, helping to shape a world-class skills and learning infrastructure for all communities.