Decision details

On 14 November 2013, the Government awarded the Leeds City Region Local Enterprise Partnership £4.6m to provide additional support to unemployed 18-24 year olds across the Leeds City Region. Leeds City Council will receive approximately £1.2m to deliver the “Young Talent: Head Start” Programme providing support to a cohort of young people on benefits, with insufficient opportunities to gain real work experience in a competitive labour market.  The Programme is due to commence between January and March 2014 in Leeds and will run for up to 2 years.

The Executive Board is asked to authorise expenditure of up to £1,238,962 on the activity to be delivered through the programme.

The Director of City Development submitted a report which sought authority to spend up to £1,224,885 of external funding to deliver the 18-24 Young Talent: Head Start programme in Leeds.

The Board noted and welcomed the involvement of local businesses in the initiative. Responding to a Member’s enquiry, officers undertook to provide the Member in question with further detail on the geographical spread of the companies involved in the initiative, the respective size of the companies and the fields in which they operated.

RESOLVED –

(a)  That approval be given to the expenditure of up to £1,224,885, which has been allocated to Leeds, on the activities as set out within the submitted report.

(b)  That the following be noted:-

·  the stages required to implement the decision, as outlined within paragraph 3 and Appendix 1of the submitted report;

·  the proposed timescales for implementation, as outlined within paragraph 10.1 of the submitted report; and

·  that the Head of Projects and Programmes will be responsible for the implementation of such matters.

Key stakeholders and partners will be consulted between Nov – Jan to inform the final programme in Leeds.

Executive Member for Leisure and Skills; Executive Member for Children’s Services; Area Committee; Lead Members for Employment, Skills and Welfare; Department for Work and Pension; Children’s Services and other stakeholders identified as part of the development of the programme in Leeds.