Governance and Standards Scrutiny Panel – 26 September 2017

Chairman: –Councillor Robinson
Venue:  Function Room 1, Civic Centre, Ashby Road, Scunthorpe
Time:  6 p.m.
E-mail:  matthew.nundy@northlincs.gov.uk

AGENDA

1.       Substitutions.
2.       Declarations of disclosable pecuniary interests and personal or personal and prejudicial interests and declarations of whipping arrangements (if any).
3.       To take the minutes of the meeting of the panel held on 6 September 2017 as a correct record and authorise the chairman to sign.
4.       Public speaking requests, if any.
5.       Apprenticeship Levy
5.1     Discussions and questions with Sandra Simmons, the council’s Head of Participation and Achievement.
5.2     Next stages.
6.       The Action Station – One Stop Shop for Skills and Employment.
6.1     Discussions and questions with Sandra Simmons, the council’s Head of Participation and Achievement.
6.2     Next stages.
7.       Added Item (if any).
8.       Any other items that the Chairman decides are urgent by reason of special circumstances that must be specified.

MINUTES

PRESENT: –  Councillor Robinson in the chair.

Councillors Gosling (Vice-Chair), Clark, L Foster and Longcake.

The panel met at the Civic Centre, Scunthorpe.

24      DECLARATIONS OF DISCLOSABLE PECUNIARY INTERESTS AND PERSONAL OR PERSONAL AND PREJUDICIAL INTERESTS AND DECLARATIONS OF WHIPPING ARRANGEMENTS (IF ANY) – There were no declarations of disclosable pecuniary interests and personal or personal and prejudicial interests.

No whip was declared.

25  MINUTES – Resolved – That the minutes of the proceedings of this panel held on 6 September 2017, having been printed and circulated amongst the members, be taken as read and correctly recorded and signed by the chairman.

26  PUBLIC REQUESTS TO SPEAK There were no requests received.

27 (6)  APPRENTICESHIP LEVY – The Chairman welcomed Sandra Simmons, Louise Baxter and Julie Lane to the meeting, the council’s Head of Participation and Achievement, Head of Adult Community Learning and Lead Officer for Post 16 respectively.  The council officers had been invited to the meeting to update Panel Members on the implementation of the Apprenticeship Levy.

Members were informed that the Apprenticeship Levy was announced at Summer Budget 2015, and at Autumn Statement 2015 it was announced that it would come into effect in April 2017.  

The Apprenticeship Levy was a levy on UK employers to fund new apprenticeships.  In England, control of apprenticeship funding would be put in the hands of employers through the Digital Apprenticeship Service.  The levy was charged at a rate of 0.5% of an employer’s paybill.  Each employer would receive an allowance of £15,000 to offset against their levy payment.  

Members were guided through the introduction of the Apprenticeship Levy within the council, and discussed the benefits of the programme.

Council officers delivered an oral presentation, before the Chairman facilitated a discussion on the implementation of the Apprenticeship Levy.

Resolved – (a) That the position be noted, and (b) that the council’s Head of Participation and Achievement, Head of Adult Community Learning and Lead Officer for Post 16 be thanked for their attendance, presentation and for answering members’ questions.

28 (8) ACTION STATION – ONE STOP SHOP FOR SKILLS AND EMPLOYMENT – The Chairman welcomed Sandra Simmons, Louise Baxter and Julie Lane to the meeting, the council’s Head of Participation and Achievement, Head of Adult Community Learning and Lead Officer for Post 16 respectively.  The council officers had been invited to the meeting to update the Panel on the range of services that the Action Station provided, the footfall at the facility, the key Action Station milestones and case studies of clients that had benefitted from accessing the service.

Following the presentation, the Chairman facilitated a discussion between Panel Members and the council officers.

Resolved – That the council’s Head of Participation and Achievement, Head of Adult Community Learning and Lead Officer for Post 16 be thanked for their attendance, presentation and for answering members’ questions.

29  ADDED ITEM – The Director: Governance and Partnerships informed the meeting that, in accordance with the council’s constitution, an added item had been submitted by Councillor Collinson titled ‘advertisements on the council’s website’.

The Chairman informed the meeting that the added item would be considered as soon as was practicable.