Issue - meetings

Consideration was given to the report of the Service Manager Young People & Partnerships which was presented to provide Members with an opportunity to scrutinise the local Inspire 2 Achieve and Inspire 2 Work projects funded by the European Social Fund (ESF). These projects are part of the Youth Service’s approach to reducing the numbers of young people becoming Not in Employment, Education or Training (NEET).

The Service Manager, Young People & Partnerships presented the report and highlighted the main points contained therein.

A Member commented that it was an outstanding achievement that year on year the figures for NEET’s were low and felt it was important to secure long term funding to ensure that these projects continue in the future.

With regard to funding, the Service Manager, Young People & Partnerships advised Members that the regional programme would end in May 2023 and local delivery would end in April 2023.  She felt it was important to ensure that they were involved in discussions for any UK Government funding coming through the system, however, there were concerns that UK Government programmes were not looking at supporting employability programmes for young people below the age of 18.  There was also a risk that the NEET’s figures could increase if staff left the service as their contracts would not continue beyond May next year.

A Member commented that future prosperity of the County Borough was through education and jobs for young people and felt it should be a priority for the Council to seek long term funding to ensure these projects were carried forward.

The Corporate Director of Education commented that if the funding gap remained relating to Inspire 2 Achieve and Inspire 2 Work projects then, as part of the Council’s budget setting process, consideration could be given to secure elements or provision for the projects moving forward.

The Committee AGREED to recommend that the report be accepted and endorse Option 1; namely that Members scrutinised the information detailed within the report and the report be accepted.