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GMCA AND AGMA SCRUTINY POOL
MINUTES OF THE MEETING HELD ON FRIDAY 13 MARCH 2015 AT MANCHESTER TOWN HALL
PRESENT
Bolton Council ClIr Carol Burrows
Bury Council CIIr David Jones
Manchester CC ClIr Angeliki Stogia CIIr Ahmed Ali
Oldham MBC CIIr Cohn McLaren CIIr Cath Ball CIIr John Dillon
Rochdale MBC ClIr Terry Linden CIIr Michael Holly
Salford CC Cllr John Ferguson
Stockport MBC CIIr Ben Alexander ClIr Walter Brett ClIr Syd Lloyd
Tameside MBC Cur John Bell
Trafford Council Chlr Pam Dixon ClIr Barry Brotherton Cllr Alan Mitchell
Wigan MBC CIIr John O’Brien (Chair) Cllr Pam Stewart
IN ATTENDANCE
Item
6 Youth Employment Nic Hutchins, Head of Youth Initiatives, New Economy Sarah MacLoughlin, Senior Policy Officer, Youth Initiatives, New Economy.
7 GM Place Planning Kirston Nelson, Assistant Director - Education, Wigan Council. Julie Hough, School Organisation Manager, Wigan Council.
GM Integrated Support Team Kerry Bond, Senior Democratic Services Officer 4
15/17 APOLOGIES
Apologies were received from ClIrs Fairclough, Gartside, Strong, Walsh, Peet, Wilkes.
15/18 DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST
Councillor Angeliki Stogia, Manchester CC declared an interest in Item 6 as a seconded officer to the New Economy. Councillor John Ferguson declared an interest in Item 6 as a Director at City West Housing, Salford.
15/19 MINUTES OF THE MEETING HELD ON 13 FEBRUARY 2015
RESOLVED/
To approve the Minutes of the Scrutiny Pool meeting held on 13 February 2015.
As requested at the previous meeting, copies of minutes of the last four meetings of the North West Consortium Asylum Executive Board were circulated to members on a confidential basis.
RESOLVED/
Members agreed to note the confidentiality of the North West Consortium Asylum Executive Board minutes that were circulated at the meeting.
15/20 SCRUTINY POOL WORK PROGRAMME
RESOLVED/
To note the Work Programme.
15/21 YOUTH EMPLOYMENT
Nic Hutchins, Head of Youth Initiatives and Sarah MacLoughlin, Senior Policy Officer, Youth Initiatives at New Economy provided a presentation and report which gave an update on the youth employment and apprenticeship landscape within Greater Manchester. This included information on specific initiatives to deliver apprenticeships and reduce youth unemployment.
The update highlighted Three programmes of activity, linking to GMS prioirities NEET16-18 Apprenticeships Youth employment programmes Key priorities and headlines Challenges
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Questions and comments from the Scrutiny Pool included-
There is no mention in your report/presentation of BME communities, we have seen a 50% increase in these recently.
- This is something we need to look into, to reflect and understand this in Greater Manchester
• Phases 3 and 4 of universal credit works on postcode areas, is this looked at GM wide or via individual authorities?
- JCP postcode system is used, this is not necessarily mapped against local authority boundaries, will take back to JCP to look into.
• Do you have further information on the GM transport offer. There is a concern that young, low paid people will refuse job / apprenticeship offers due to the high cost of travel?
- Transport for Greater Manchester offers a range of fare concessions that are available for students, making it possible for them to travel across local authority boundaries to access their learning. We are currently working with TfGM and bus companies on an offer that could be made available for people on an apprenticeship.
• Work has been taking place for the past 20 years or so on this, eg. Sure start, how do figures compare from when this type of work began to now. Why are there 40,000 people in NEET when this work has been ongoing for so many years.
- Information will be collated and circulated to members.
• There is concern on how the younger age group are being treated by JCP, there seems to be a lack of communtication, for example, a claimant could be registered for a course but then be sanctioned.
- Officers from New Economy are working with JCP managers to ensure they understand the needs of the NEET group. • What can be done to address the problem around identifying candidates for post 16 vocational education?
- A support structure needs to be put in place to ensures schools and employers engage, ensuring they are joined up where it is most needed.
• We need a resource in schools to guide students into a career path.
• Statistics from the Fawcett Society show that there are less women employed compared to men, and that BME is disproportionate between men and women, a resource is needed to develop and promote education.
- Will look into demographic groups.
• Are there statistics available that show a breakdown of demographics, detailing where people come from, type of accommodation etc?
- Yes, will come back with next tier of data, this is mapped at postcode/ward level.
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MMU have launched a degree that can be done at apprenticeship level, over a 4/5 year working period, and without the university fees.
• There is a lack of apprenticeships available for trade skills, electrician, plumbers, bricklayers.
RESOLVED!
1. That the presentation and report be noted and the work supported. 2. That officers liaise with TfGM on concerns around the cost of public transport for young low paid people. 3. That the report and presentation be forwarded to Councillor Sean Anstee as lead portfolio holder for skills, employment and worklessness to raise concerns at GMCA level. 4. That the information on NEET be circulated to members. 5. That an update report be brought to a future meeting to include the next tier of data, a breakdown of demographics, detailing where people come from, type of accommodation etc, mapped at postcode/ward level.
15/22 GM PLACE PLANNING
Kirston Nelson, Assistant Director for Education and Julie Hough, School Organisation Manager, Wigan Council talked to a report updating members on the progress and findings of the GM Pupil Place Planning Report. This report was commissioned by the GM Place Planning Group to examine historical statistics and forecast figures on pupil numbers. This would enable the identification of particular pressure points by school planning area and inform neighbouring local authorities with which these issues are shared.
Questions and comments from the Scrutiny Pool included-
• The growth projected figures look at different analysis in each district, consistency is required across the GM figures.
- The guidance tells us how to work out the formula, we will work on a separate set of figures ensuring consistency across districts.
• Do the pan figures for primary include schools that have agreed figures?
- The general approach is that if we know the increasing pan figures they are include in the projection set. Will confirm at the next update where this is included.
• Why are the figures for the secondary age range for 11-15 years old, are figures for 16-19’s looked at?
- Yes but this is a separate piece of work, we will bring back detail in the next update.
• The narrative re mtow/outflow is disproportionate.
- It was suggested that members speak with their local authority officer when looking at individual district figures.
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• We have moved a long way in terms of projecting figures, for example, in Wigan figures are scrutinised in more detail to ensure children are tracked from birth, this ensures a more accurate projection.
• In terms of migration, is there a ripple effect from Manchester to other districts, is there analysis on outflow?
- Each authority has an element of migration that is uncontrollable, will ask each district to write an appendices to attach to the report. Will circulate once complete.
• What are the outflow figures to outside of Greater Manchester? Conversations with cross border authorities is required to gain this information.
RESOLVED!
1. To note the content of the report. 2. That an update report be brought to a future meeting.
15/23 FUTURE SCHEDULED MEETING DATES
2015 17 April 2015 12 June 2015 10 July 2015 11 September 2015 9 October 2015 13 November 2015 11 December2015
All meetings will be held 1:00pm - 3:00pm at Manchester Town Hall
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