Issue - meetings

This report introduces the Employment, Skills and Enterprise Strategy, following an extensive consultation and engagement exercise.

(i)         that approval be given to the draft Employment, Skills and Enterprise Strategy;

(ii)        that the content of the Equality Impact Assessment which is set out in Appendix 2 to the report be noted.

Councillor Mashari (Lead Member, Employment and Skills) introduced the Employment, Skills and Enterprise Strategy which had been devised following an extensive consultation and engagement process. The document was the first such strategy to be produced in Brent and it was intended to align closely to the approach set out in other strategic documents, in particular the Borough Plan, the Regeneration Strategy and the Housing Strategy. Councillor Mashari stated that the strategy would inject a new impetus, was a working document to take to partners and she outlined the five strategic objectives which she looked forward to bringing to life.

With the consent of the Cabinet, Pratiba Ramsingh (District Operations Manager, Jobcentre Plus) and Phil Sperring (Business Director, Wates Living Space) addressed the meeting in turn regarding the strategy. Ms Ramsingh stated that Jobcentre Plus was committed to the delivery of outcomes and looked forward to pooling resources to identify gaps and avoid duplication. Staff were already on site and ready to start work.  Mr Sperring expressed commitment to working closely with the strategy and outlined what had already been delivered through careers, apprenticeships, masterclasses and work tours some of which had resulted in employment for local people. Future plans included a programme for out of work young people and construction related tours for children.

Members welcomed the strategy, the opportunity for partnership working and the direction of travel. Councillor Mashari thanked Ms Ramsingh and Mr Sperring for their contributions and work which it was hoped would spread across the borough.

RESOLVED:

(i)         that approval be given to the draft Employment, Skills and Enterprise Strategy;

(ii)        that the content of the Equality Impact Assessment which was set out in Appendix 2 to the report be noted.