Issue - meetings

To consider a report of the Cabinet Member for Property & Assets and Economic Growth.

(a)           That the draft ‘Get Dorset and BCP Working Plan’, be approved for publication.

(b)           That authority be delegated to the Executive Director for Place, in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Property, Assets and Economic Growth and Cabinet Member for Children’s Services, Education, and Skills, to undertake any minor changes to the Working Plan needed during its lifetime.

(c)           That authority be delegated to the Executive Director for Place, in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Property, Assets and Economic Growth and Cabinet Member for Children’s Services, Education, and Skills, to assign any remaining funding from the Government allocation to deliver outcomes identified in the Get Dorset and BCP Working Plan.    

(d)           That the Connect to Work Plan, be approved.

(e)           That authority be delegated to the Executive Director for Place, in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Property, Assets and Economic Growth and Cabinet Member for Children’s Services, Education, and Skills, to undertake any minor changes to the Connect to Work Plan needed during its lifetime.

Reason for the decision

The Get Dorset and BCP Working Plan, and supporting Connect to Work programme, would enable Dorset Council to help address challenges related to labour market participation and progression.

In addition to being a government requirement, development and implementation of the Plan would help realise key ambitions of the Council’s Plan and supporting Economic Growth Strategy and Digital Infrastructure and Inclusion Strategy, particularly around productivity, investment and skills needed for both today’s economy and the proposed future expansion of key sectors including clean energy.

The Cabinet Member for Property & Assets and Economic Growth outlined the Council’s role in leading the regional implementation of the national “Get Britain Working” initiative, which aimed to boost employment and reduce economic inactivity through a joint plan with BCP Council, the Department for Work and Pensions, and the Integrated Care Board.

In response to questions regarding funding, members were advised that the Council had received £125,000 from central government to pull together this work and a range of further works which would go on beyond the initial project.  The Chamber of Commerce had also been commissioned to assist with delivering the project through the local skills and innovation partnership.

It was proposed by Cllr R Biggs and seconded by Cllr C Sutton

Decision

(a)           That the draft ‘Get Dorset and BCP Working Plan’, be approved for publication.

(b)           That authority be delegated to the Executive Director for Place, in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Property, Assets and Economic Growth and Cabinet Member for Children’s Services, Education, and Skills, to undertake any minor changes to the Working Plan needed during its lifetime.

(c)           That authority be delegated to the Executive Director for Place, in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Property, Assets and Economic Growth and Cabinet Member for Children’s Services, Education, and Skills, to assign any remaining funding from the Government allocation to deliver outcomes identified in the Get Dorset and BCP Working Plan.    

(d)           That the Connect to Work Plan, be approved.

(e)           That authority be delegated to the Executive Director for Place, in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Property, Assets and Economic Growth and Cabinet Member for Children’s Services, Education, and Skills, to undertake any minor changes to the Connect to Work Plan needed during its lifetime.

Reason for the decision

The Get Dorset and BCP Working Plan, and supporting Connect to Work programme, would enable Dorset Council to help address challenges related to labour market participation and progression.

In addition to being a government requirement, development and implementation of the Plan would help realise key ambitions of the Council’s Plan and supporting Economic Growth Strategy and Digital Infrastructure and Inclusion Strategy, particularly around productivity, investment and skills needed for both today’s economy and the proposed future expansion of key sectors including clean energy.