Agenda and minutes

Members of the public are welcome to attend our meetings to watch them in person at any of the venues across the County. Publicly accessible meetings held in County Hall will be webcast, which means they are available to be watched live or recorded on our website. Please see our webcasting notice here. The Committee may, in certain circumstances, resolve to hold part of the meeting in private. If this is the case, you will be required to leave the meeting.

Venue: Committee Room 'C' - The Duke of Lancaster Room, County Hall, Preston. View directions

Contact: Holly Tween  Tel: 01772 537955 Email:  holly.tween@lancashire.gov.uk

Items
No. Item

1.

Welcome and Apologies for Absence

Minutes:

The Chair, Amanda Melton, welcomed all to the meeting.  Apologies for absence were presented from Joanne Pickering and Andy Wood.

2.

Declarations of Interest

Minutes:

Amanda Melton and Bev Robinson declared interests in Item 8 – Area Based Review as their Colleges were involved in the Review.  The declarations were noted and that Amanda and Bev could remain present for the item.

3.

Minutes of the meeting held on 07 June 2017 pdf icon PDF 115 KB

Minutes:

Resolved:  That the minutes of the meeting held on 7th June 2017 be approved and signed by the Chair.

4.

Matters Arising

Minutes:

None

5.

CITB Construction Skills Gap Analysis pdf icon PDF 111 KB

Andrew Bridge from CITB will attend to present this item

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Andrew Bridge, Local Manager, Construction Industry Training Board, gave a presentation regarding the Lancashire Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) Construction Labour and Skills Research.

 

The presentation highlighted that the objectives of the research where to assist in the establishment of a skilled and flexible workforce that supports economic growth, enhanced productivity and jobs growth for the Lancashire LEP area.

 

It was noted that the research information from Glenigan, shows that the number of construction pipeline projects in the LEP area totalled 697 with a total construction spend of £6.791m. The majority of these projects (50%) is New Housing construction.

 

It was reported that the data had been extensively cleansed and tested for consistency with work allocated proportionality by activity, area, and other criteria.

 

Analysis of the labour demand arising from the construction spend in the Lancashire LEP area peaks at a little under 50,000 people, taking account of estimates of other work.

 

Occupations with the highest demand include

 

·  Non-construction professional, technical and IT

·  Wood trades and interior fit-out

·  Other construction professional and tech

·  Plumbing and HVAC trades.

·  Senior, executive and process managers

 

It was noted that 94% of Further Education construction training is delivered by eight providers.  76% of all construction related training is delivered by four training providers.  Further Education construction training achievements have declined year on year for three years.  Courses are available for all main construction occupations and nearly all specialist occupations.  The number of apprenticeships has increased by almost a third.  The LEP area accounts for 25% of identified construction related training across the North West region (compared to 17% of the construction population).

 

Committee Members commented that work needs to be done to improve the reputation of the construction industry within the 16-19 cohort to sell the benefits of the industry and career path that can be achieved.  Work also needs to be done with parents to educate and promote the benefits of working in the construction industry to their children as parents are the single biggest influence on choices made by Young People.

 

Resolved:  The Skills and Employment Board:

 

(i)  Noted the presentation; and

 

(ii)  Agreed that the Lancashire Skills Hub would take forward the actions in the table (within the report) as presented.

 

6.

BBL School Improvement Board

John Boyle, Chair of the BBL SIB, will attend to present this item

Minutes:

John Boyle, Chair of the BBL School Improvement Board, gave an oral update on the work of the School Improvement Board and its impact. 

 

It was reported that School Improvement was previously the responsibility of Local Education Authorities (LEAs).  In the last seven years this has changed.  There is now a concept of "Teaching Schools" with teacher training and development delivered through schools working together to share best practice, with those teachers deemed to be delivering excellent or specialist teaching delivering training to other schools and teachers.

 

To gain Teaching School status a school need to have an OFSTED rating of "good" or "outstanding". 

 

Academies are different as they are limited companies and not part of the Local Authority.  The Directors / Members have responsibility and whilst the Local Authority can monitor performance of Academies it cannot intervene legally.  The National Schools Commissioner is responsible for Academies.

 

The BBL School Improvement Board has secured Strategic School Improvement Funding which is to be allocated to schools.

 

The Committee agreed that it should seek to align the work of the Committee with regard to School Improvement to the priorities of BBL.

 

In addition, the Committee discussed the BBL School Improvement Board and agreed that Dr Michele Lawty-Jones and Amanda Melton be nominated to accept an invitation for the Skills and Employment Board to attend the Board and for Michele and Amanda to put together a short report for the next Committee meeting reporting back.

 

 

 

 

Resolved:  That:

 

(i)  The oral report regarding BBL School Improvement Board be noted; and

 

(ii)  That Michele and Amanda accept an invitation to the next BBL School Improvement Board to present the work of the committee and discuss joint objectives.

7.

Skills and Employment Hub Update & Objectives pdf icon PDF 128 KB

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Dr Michele Lawty-Jones, Director of the Lancashire Skills Hub, presented a report (circulated) which provided an update on the Skills and Employment Hub Objectives.

 

It was highlighted that three additional Enterprise Coordinators were appointed over the summer to support the full roll out of the Lancashire Enterprise Adviser Network:  At the end of September the number of schools and colleges engaged was 78 and the number of Enterprise Advisers (business volunteers) was 87.

 

With regard to European Structural Investment Funds (ESIF) it was highlighted that the Investment Priority 2.1 Skills for Growth call for Leadership and Management (focusing on succession planning) was released during the summer.  The closing date for Stage 1 applications is 10th October 2017. 

 

It was noted that the Teaching Hub (University of Cumbria in Lancaster) and the launch of the Food and Farming Innovation Technology Centre (Myerscough College) both took place during September and were well attended.  The Lancashire Adult Learning facility at Northlight opened on 1th October.  The launch of the Energy HQ has been postponed (however the building is open and learners and employers are using the facility).

 

With regard to the City Deal 'Bridge the Gap' Lego Bridge building activity it was reported that the activity has been piloted in 5 schools in central Lancashire.  The pilot was delivered to 122 young people, 7 teachers and supported by 22 STEM Ambassadors.  A number of partners have also bought the resource box.

 

The Committee noted the other updated provided, as reported, regarding Events, Visitor Economy Workshop, Digital Advantage, Technical Education and Institutes of Technology.  It was noted that the Technical Education visioning piece was contracted and was under development, and that a number of committee members had contributed to the initial scoping interviews.

 

With regard to objectives for the coming year, Committee Members commented that it would be useful to link together the SEP Refresh to Brexit.  Subject to the heading "Focus for 2016/17" being updated to state "Focus for 2017/18" the Board approved the Key Objectives for 2017/18 as set out at Appendix 'A' to the report.

 

 

Resolved:  The Skill and Employment Board:

 

(i)  Noted the report and update provided.

 

(ii)  Noted that the draft Technical Education Visioning piece will be presented at the next Board meeting to be held on Wednesday 29th November 2017.

 

(iii)  Requested that any further comments regarding the objectives be sent via email to Michele.

 

(iv)  Subject to any further comments received via email and the minor update as detailed above, approved the Objectives for the Hub for 2017 / 18 as set out at Appendix 'A'.

8.

Area Based Review - Recommendations from the Implementation Group pdf icon PDF 74 KB

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Dr Michele Lawty-Jones presented a report (circulated) regarding the Area Based Review containing recommendations from the Implementation Group.

 

Committee Members were recommended to review the non-structural action plan, in particular Section B, with a view to a final version being endorsed at the next formal meeting of the Skills and Employment Board.

 

It was suggested that Committee Members should email any further comments they have on the Area Based Review to Dr Lawty-Jones prior to the next meeting.

 

In addition, the Committee was informed that due to the delay in reaching agreement on the financial aspects of the planned merger between Accrington & Rossendale College and Burnley College, the FE Commissioner's team is conducting a Structure and Prospects Appraisal with a view to confirming the way forward for Accrington & Rossendale College.

 

As part of this process the FEC team will consult with the LEP and relevant local authorities and will engage with all the General FE Colleges in Lancashire including Burnley College.  The SPA will invite expressions of interest from potential merger partners in Lancashire as the first stage in a process that will be conducted by the FE Commission working closely with the Accrington & Rossendale Corporation.

 

Resolved:  The Skills and Employment Board:

 

(i)  Noted the update regarding the proposed merger between Accrington & Rossendale College and Burnley College.

 

(ii)  Reviewed the non-structural action plan and agreed to provide any additional comments and feedback to Dr Lawty-Jones via email after the meeting.

 

(iii)Agreed that further updates be provided to the Committee, as appropriate.

9.

Reporting to the Lancashire Enterprise Partnership

  Identification and agreement of any recommendations for consideration/approval by the LEP Board.

 

  Identification and agreement of issues for inclusion in the feedback report for the LEP Board.

 

Minutes:

There were no specific items requiring referral to the Lancashire Enterprise Partnership Board for approval, it was noted that Amanda and Michele were scheduled to attend the LEP Board on 7th November to provide the LEP Board with an update on the work of the Lancashire Skills and Employment Board.

10.

Any Other Business

Minutes:

None

11.

Date of Next Meeting

The next meeting will be held at 8.00am on 29 November 2017 in Committee Room D (Henry Bolingbroke Room), County Hall, Preston.

 

The programme of meetings for 2018 is scheduled as follows, with all venues to be confirmed:

 

8.00am 07 February 2018 - informal

8.00am 11 April 2018

8.00am 06 June 2018

8.00am 12 September 2018 - informal

8.00am 10 October 2018

8.00am 21 November 2018

Minutes:

The Board noted the programme of meetings for 2018 and noted that the next meeting of the Skills and Employment Board was scheduled to be held at 8am on 29th November 2017 in Committee Room 'D' (Henry Bolingbroke Room), County Hall, Preston.

Part II (Private and Confidential)

At this point the Skills and Employment Board approved that the meeting move into Part II, Private and Confidential, to consider a presentation regarding a specific project as it contained information provided in confidence as defined in the Freedom of Information Act 2000.  It was considered that in all the circumstances of the case the public interest in maintaining the exemption outweighed the public interest in disclosing the information.

12.

ESF ESFA Projects - Performance Reports

Not for publication – exempt information as defined in paragraph 41 (Information provided in confidence relating to contracts) of the Freedom of Information Act 2000. It is considered that in all the circumstances of the case the public interest in maintaining the exemption outweighs the public interest in disclosing the information.

 

The three Strategic Partnership Managers will attend to present this item.

Minutes:

Janet Jackson, Tracy Heyes and Sara Gaskell (Strategic Partnership Managers, Lancashire Skills Hub) presented a report, in Part II, regarding the ESF ESFA Opt-in Projects which included a performance report.

 

Resolved:  The Skills and Employment Board noted the report and the progress made against performance targets.

13.

ESF/ESFA Projects Capacity Building/Engagement Activity Plan

Not for publication – exempt information as defined in paragraph 41 (Information provided in confidence relating to contracts) of the Freedom of Information Act 2000. It is considered that in all the circumstances of the case the public interest in maintaining the exemption outweighs the public interest in disclosing the information.

 

The three Strategic Partnership Managers will attend to present this item.

Minutes:

Janet Jackson, Tracy Heyes and Sara Gaskell presented a report, in Part II, regarding the Capacity Building / Engagement Activity Plan for ESF ESFA Opt-in Projects.

 

Resolved:  The Skills and Employment Board:

 

(i)  Approved the changes to the Capacity Building / Engagement Activity Plan as set out in section 2 of the report; and

 

(ii)  Noted the progress made to date as set out in section 3 of the report and that satisfactory progress has been made to date.