There were no disclosures of interest in matters under consideration.

NO ACTION

(Access to Information Procedure Rules – Part 3B of the Constitution)

Reports and background papers for agenda items may be inspected by contacting the person shown after each agenda item.  Certain reports and background papers may be restricted. 

Any request to remove the restriction on a report or background paper should be made to the relevant Strategic Director or Assistant Director whose name is shown on the front page of the report. 

If that request is refused, there is a right of appeal to this meeting. 

Please contact the officer shown below in advance of the meeting if you wish to appeal. 

(Asad Shah/Sheila Farnhill – 01274 432280/2268)

There were no appeals submitted by the public to review decisions to restrict documents.

NO ACTION

Any referrals that have been made to this Committee up to and including the date of publication of this agenda will be reported at the meeting.

There were no referrals to the Committee.

NO ACTION

The Director of the National Science and Media Museum will present a report (Document “AA”) which updates Members on the progress made in respect of the Museum’s three year plan covering the period April 2015 to March 2018.

The views of the Committee are requested and will be relayed to the Museum’s Trustees.

                                                            (Bobsie Robinson – 01274 432922)

A report was submitted (Document “AA”) which updated Members on the progress made in respect of the National Science and Media Museum’s three year plan, covering the period April 2015 to March 2018, which aimed to re-focus its offer with a greater emphasis on Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths (STEM) and to move to a sustainable operating model for the long term future.

The Strategic Director, Place explained that the results achieved over the three year period, which had been supported by the Council and its investment of £1 million were welcomed.

The Director of the Museum gave a presentation to highlight some of the achievements and events.  She explained that:

·         A lot of hard work had been undertaken both with and alongside the Council and the new name brand and website had been introduced in early 2017.

·         The re-launch had including the opening of an exciting new interactive gallery; ‘Wonderlab’ which focused on light, sound and perception.

·         The re-launch event had been very successful.

·         Significant work was being undertaken to engage with the local community; the Museum endeavoured to provide a high quality out of school experience and aimed to raise the aspirations and attainment of local children.

·         The frontage was now colourfully lit at night and this had given the Museum a stronger presence within the City Centre.

·         Attendance had increased significantly in comparison with previous years..

·         A ‘Supersenses’ exhibition had taken place in Summer 2017 this had included exhibits exploring the way in which animals perceive the world and a sound installation, undertaken in conjunction with students from Bradford College, associated with the City Park Mirror Pool.

·         The Museum was very proud of the Bradford Science Festival which had been delivered, in conjunction with a network of other agencies and local science and technology providers, in July 2017. All expectations had been exceeded with over 34,500 visitors over the weekend. There had also been a significant impact in terms of the numbers visiting the Broadway Shopping Centre and City Park. The event had received  funding from the Broadway Shopping Centre.

·         Between September and November the Museum had hosted the Soyuz Capsule that had transported the astronaut Tim Peake to and from the International Space Station in 2015/16. This event had included a personal appearance by Tim Peake and the chance to experience a Virtual Reality Space Descent. Sponsorship and assistance had been provided by Samsung and many connections had been made with local schools.

·         A Widescreen Weekend Film Festival had been held on October which had resulted in a 15% uplift on admissions and a 27% increase in box office income. The Museum was one of only 3 venues in the world able to show Cinerama on the Pictureville Cinema curved screen.

·         Numerous activities had taken place during the October Half Term in 2017 and 28,000 visitors had been welcomed during this period.

·         The Museum had been highly commended at the White Rose Awards.

·         The Museum had hosted the Yorkshire Games  ...  view the full minutes text for item 4.

The Strategic Director (Children’s Services) will submit a report in respect of the Get Bradford Working programme (Document “AB”), which aims to tackle the issues and barriers facing Bradford residents in the labour market.

It gives details of the achievements of the programme to date and future plans.

Recommended –

(1)       That Document “AB” be noted and the continued success of the Get Bradford Working Programme in providing access to employment opportunities for those living in the Bradford district be welcomed.

(2)       That the work of the Council’s partners in delivering the Get Bradford Working programme be commended.

(3)       That Members of the Committee give a commitment to the promotion of the Get Bradford Working and Skills Training and Employment (STEP) programmes within their networks.

                                                                        (Matt Findull – 01274 439572)

The Strategic Director (Children’s Services) submitted a report in respect of the Get Bradford Working (GBW) Programme (Document “AB”), which aimed to tackle the issues and barriers facing Bradford residents in the labour market. The report gave details of the achievements of the programme to date and future plans.

The Strategic Director showed Members a video from the Local Government Association’s (LGA) website promoting the benefits of the GBW initiative and said that:

·         It was considered that the GBW Programme had been a great success with 3104 individuals supported into employment as at today’s date. Almost 3000 young people were taking part in the Industrial Centres of Learning (ICE) initiative which opened up different learning opportunities for them and had a proven impact on retention.

·         SkillsHouse had resulted in the City Centre attaining ‘World Host’ status, the first city to have done so, and there were plans to extend this to Saltaire.

·         SkillsHouse had also diversified from it’s initial remit and, further to work with the Joseph Rowntree Foundation, was working on upskilling underemployed and low paid people in the local workforce.

·         GBW worked with major employers on upskilling their employees and supporting the attainment of qualifications up to degree level.

·         There had been an increase in apprenticeship take-up  through the Apprenticeship Hub.

·         The ‘Step up to Business’ Project had supported 23 young people in starting their own business and had trained 101 youth practitioners to support young people with basic business skills.

·         £4 million of European Structural and Investment Fund (ESIF) funding had been secured, in partnership with Leeds City Council, for the Skills Training and Employment Pathways (STEP) Programme.

He answered Members’ questions:

·         Following the expansion of the ‘World Host’ status to Saltaire it was intended to roll out this initiative to Keighley and Ilkley, although this was not something that could be achieved within a short timescale.

·         The STEP Programme dealt predominantly with referrals from the Job Centre although targeted recruitment in particular communities was being considered. Participation was voluntary.

·         A commitment had been given by the Treasury in respect of secured funding until the end of the existing programme.

·         The ‘World Host’ initiative was about offering outstanding service but also ensured that companies continued to invest in staff training.

·         The potential for commercial opportunities and partnership investment into SkillsHouse was being investigated.

·         A breakdown of how the money had been spent could be provided to Members.

·         Historically data had not been collected in respect of retention of employment or the progression of participants. Some European funded contracts required tracking for 6 months whilst others required demonstration of progression. It should be noted that there were costs associated with undertaking tracking.

·         The Government was clear that careers education and technical learning was the responsibility of schools.

·         The ICE initiative was a partnership with local businesses to enhance learning opportunities and focus on relevant skills. It also increased connections between young people and the labour market/business. The Council maintained a brokerage role in terms  ...  view the full minutes text for item 5.

A report will be submitted by the Strategic Director (Children’s Services) (Document “AC”) which provides an overview of Skills for Work provision in the district.

The Service had been inspected by Ofsted in December 2017 and was judged to have maintained the ‘Good’ rating achieved in March 2014.

Recommended –

That Document “AC” be noted and the continued success of Skills for Work and its delivery of learning opportunities and apprenticeships across the Bradford district be welcomed.

                                                                        (Sarah Odor – 01274 439579)

A report was submitted by the Strategic Director (Children’s Services) (Document “AC”) which provided an overview of the Skills for Work provision in the district.

It was reported that the Service had been inspected by Ofsted in December 2017 and was judged to have maintained the ‘Good’ rating achieved in March 2014.

The Strategic Director explained that the Service was working towards an ‘Outstanding’ rating and reported that:

·         The Education Skills and Funding Agency contracts allowed parents to engage with schools and learn alongside their children which had a positive impact. It increased English Language skills and improved interaction with agencies such as Education and Health.

·         It provided a welcoming and inclusive environment and various qualifications could be acquired.

·         Above the national average retention and achievement rates were being achieved.

·         Skills for Work was the preferred training provider for the Council and was assisting the Council in meeting its target of 500 apprentices.

·         The Service worked with those who were hardest to help and the most disadvantaged. Its work had been highly praised by the Inspectors and it had been nominated for a national award.

Members questions were answered as follows:

·         The 51+ age group was a challenging group; in many cases there were issues associated with health conditions and disability. The Service had worked very hard to achieve the results that it had.

·         Skills for Work was not the only such learning provider in the district.

·         In terms of the percentage of people who were unemployed and ‘not looking for work’ in Appendix 3 this was as a result of personal choice.

·         Encouraging people into employment was only one strand of the programme; the aim was to create an ethos of family learning, cohesion, engagement with the community and enrichment,

Resolved –

That Document “AC” be noted and the continued success of Skills for Work and its delivery of learning opportunities and apprenticeships across the Bradford district be welcomed.

ACTION:       Strategic Director, Children’s Services