Agenda item

To consider the impact of COVID-19 on unemployment in the borough including the furlough scheme, unemployment benefits and the support for the self-employed and small businesses and recovery programme.

Prior to the introduction of the report, it was noted that there were no Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) representatives present at the meeting. It was suggested that the DWP be invited to an extraordinary meeting of the Committee which would be held as soon as possible. In addition, the Committee would write to the DWP to outline its line of questioning for the proposed meeting.

Councillor Stephens, Lead Member for Employment, Schools & Skills and Councillor Tatler, Lead Member for Regeneration, Property and Planning introduced a report on the council and partner response to assist Brent residents into employment in a the current labour market and to support businesses and town centres to adapt to the impacts of COVID-19.

The Committee was then invited to raise questions on the report, which focused on a number of key areas as highlighted below:

·         In response to a question from the Chair, it was noted that the Council had not put any additional funding into its support programmes for those seeking employment in Brent. Brent Works was funded largely through s106 contributions and Brent Starts was funded largely through the DWP, while other support projects had their own funding streams. The Committee was assured that both programmes were in a secure financial position and was able to maintain its service at its current level through its existing funding sources. The Council was committed to a partnership approach to employment within the borough, which was underpinned by its procurement strategy.

·         It was noted that the Council had provided around 470 jobs to residents during the pandemic which had been achieved through close working relations with partner organisations. It had allocated £2 million in Neighbourhood Community Infrastructure Levy (NCIL) funding for areas disproportionately affected by COVID-19 and £1 million in employment support.  The economic fallout of the pandemic had not yet been realised but the Committee was assured that the Council would continue to support residents into employment post-pandemic, with employment being a key priority of Brent Borough Plan.

·         In response to a question from the Committee, it was noted that the Council did not have access to information regarding the amount of European Union (EU) funding the DWP had put towards employment in the borough. The Committee was assured that the Council was doing its own work to survey the effects of Brexit and the pandemic on employers.

·         It was also noted that there had been no assessments on the impact of Brexit on employment within the borough, although there had been national assessments. It was difficult to estimate the impact of Brexit on employment, and much would depend on whether or not a deal could be agreed with the EU. The furlough scheme had been extended until March and it was expected that it would therefore partially cover jobs lost due to Brexit in the short term. 

·         The Committee was assured that those with disabilities within the borough would have access to employment support from the Council. There were areas within the Brent Works programme that offered targeted supported for those with disabilities, and staff were also employed to support those seeking employment benefits. Moreover, it supported apprenticeships for those with Education, Health and Care Plans (EHCPs), was a Disability Confident employer and had committed to improving employment outcomes for those with disabilities in its poverty strategy.

·         It was noted that while the Brent Works programme prioritised employment within the borough, it also sought to provide employment opportunities to residents with employers in neighbouring boroughs. The Council also hoped to encourage large employers to establish themselves within the borough by providing the necessary workspace and transport links to support them to do so. 

·         In response to a question from the Committee it was noted that employment support was available to all residents that needed it, including the traveller community. There were specific areas of the Council’s employment offer that covered the traveller community, and it was suggested that it needed to take more of a proactive approach in making the traveller community aware of the support available to it.

·         It was noted that town centre vacancy rates were calculated through business rates data and engagement with town centre managers and property owners.

·         Regarding graduate employment within the borough, it was noted that the Council was looking to attract big employers to the borough which in turn would create employment opportunities for graduates. It was recognised that the borough had historically had high levels of low-paid employment, and increasing employment in growth sectors, protecting and procuring workspace and raising the average wage were seen as key priorities.

·         It was suggested that the Council should ensure its support programmes were targeting disadvantaged communities by benchmarking their work against the characteristics and backgrounds of those that were placed into employment.

·         It was noted that the Council had not received information on the number of the borough’s businesses that had closed during the pandemic. It did carry out assessments such as business surveys, though such assessments should not been seen as representative samples. It was suggested that the Council work alongside Brent MPs to reiterate the importance of national government sharing this data with local authorities.

·         In response to a question from the Committee, it was noted that the Council was looking to support local businesses to increase their online presence and their ecommerce platform. This had been a focus before the pandemic and would continue to be a focus post-pandemic.

Resolved

That the following areas of improvement be noted:

1.    That the Council considers a joint employment strategy with the DWP.

2.    That support for cooperative businesses be included in the Procurement Strategy.

3.    That the Council encourages local MPs to lobby central government for more detailed employment and business data sharing.

The Committee made the following information requests:

1.    A breakdown of the funding the DWP received from the EU to support their employment programmes.

2.    How the Council supports small and medium-sized businesses to trade as cooperatives.

3.    A breakdown of the number of jobs the Council had provided through its employment programmes to residents prior to the pandemic.

4.    A breakdown of the employment opportunities the Council has offered residents through its employment programmes inside and outside of the borough.

5.    How the Council supports minority outreach communities, in particular the traveller community, into employment.

6.    Feedback from business surveys undertaken to evaluate the impact of the pandemic on businesses and the self-employed.