Decision details

Subject to a successful bid outcome, to authorise and delegate the Director of City Development to enter into a formal contract with DWP as part of the Enhanced Local Flexibilities for the Unemployed Programme.

Approve total expenditure of up to £6m by the Council, inclusive of £3m maximum match funding to deliver the Enhanced Local Flexibilities for the Unemployed Programme over the next three years, 2021-2023.

DWP will issue a contract (if successful) in the next 2 months, we will then have 30 days to sign the contract or lose the funding opportunity.

The Director of City Development submitted a report which sought authorisation to enter into a formal contract with the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) as part of the Enhanced Local Flexibilities for the Unemployed Programme. In addition, the report sought authorisation to approve total expenditure of £6m and commit £3m maximum of Council match-funding to deliver the programme.

RESOLVED –

(a)  That subject to a successful bid outcome, the necessary authority be delegated to the Director of City Development in order to enable the Director to enter into a formal contract with the DWP as part of the Enhanced Local Flexibilities for the Unemployed Programme;

(b)  That total expenditure of up to £6m by the Council, inclusive of £3m maximum match funding to deliver the Enhanced Local Flexibilities for the Unemployed Programme over the next three years, 2021-2023, be approved;

(c)  That approval be given to exempt the resolutions within this minute from the Call In process for the reasons as detailed within paragraphs 4.5.1 – 4.5.2 of the submitted report;

(d)  That it be noted that the Head of Employment and Skills will be responsible for the implementation of such matters, anticipated to commence in January 2021 and end December 2023.

(The Council’s Executive and Decision Making Procedure Rules state that a decision may be declared as being exempt from the Call In process by the decision taker if it is considered that the matter is urgent and any delay would seriously prejudice the Council’s, or the public’s interests. In line with this, the resolutions contained within this minute were exempted from the Call In process, as per resolution (c) above, and for the reasons as detailed within sections 4.5.1 – 4.5.2 of the submitted report)

The relevant Executive Members will be briefed on the development of these proposals.

Existing user feedback, surveys and local intelligence has been used to inform the delivery model in the development of this competitive bid.

Executive Member for Learning, Skills and Employment