Agenda item

Currently there is a significant amount of un-coordinated activity supporting apprenticeships, paid and unpaid placements, work experience, internships and volunteering within individual services and Directorates. This report proposes that a coordinated approach should be followed by all Council services to ensure that schemes apply the same broad principles.

Councillor Patrick Anketell-Jones in an ad hoc statement observed that aver 600, or about 11% of the Council’s full time workforce, acted as volunteers.  He noted that in return they received “the opportunity to contribute to the delivery of local services”.  He felt that this statement should include the fact that volunteering developed people’s skills.  He regretted that recently the free public gallery in the Victoria Art Gallery had to remain closed for lack of volunteers to man it.  It would be a start to provide greater public recognition and privileges.

Councillor Ben Stevens introduced the item.  There were currently 26 apprentices in the Council and the aim was to improve on that.  He hoped that other businesses would follow the Council’s example.  He himself had struggled to find work after graduating so he understood the need for increased opportunities for young people.

He moved the proposals.

Councillor David Bellotti seconded the proposal which he said was excellent.  It was good news, set against the fact that there were now 29.7M people in work in the UK, the highest number ever.  In this authority, the number of jobless had reduced by 230.  He paid tribute to the Council’s Youth Service, the Youth Offending Team and the Connections Service for the contribution they all made to meeting the needs of young people.  The proposals were not just about jobs, but were about life opportunities.  He referred to paragraph 2.5 of the report in which it was recognised that the Procurement Strategy, adopted by the Cabinet recently, obliged the Council to take account of local economic, environmental and social factors in its procurement decisions; and these values applied to decisions about new jobs and apprenticeships.  The biggest problems were experienced by the 18-24 year old young people – a relatively small number but a huge impact on their lives.

Councillor David Dixon reminded the Cabinet that the Council used large numbers of volunteers especially as litter pickers, in community libraries and in the new hub in Paulton.  The Council had a very good relationship with the Volunteer Centre in Bath Central Library.  He was delighted that the MOT Centre and the Parks Service both ran apprenticeship schemes.

Councillor Paul Crossley referred to Patrick Anketell-Jones’ appeal for more recognition and observed that the Chairman’s Diary often showed that he entertained volunteers, throughout the year.  He had been very impressed with “Project Search”, which arranged placements for young people with significant disabilities in placements across the Council and most of whom gained meaningful work after their placements.

Councillor Ben Stevens in summing up said he hoped to see the number of volunteers increasing.

On a motion from Councillor Ben Stevens, seconded by Councillor David Bellotti, it was

RESOLVED (unanimously)

(1) To SEEK to maximise its social return on investment in the local community by creating, where possible, apprenticeships, paid and unpaid work placements, work experience, internships and volunteering thus enabling more people to gain access to potential employment opportunities in the private sector and wider labour market;

(2) To ASK the Divisional Director (Policy and Partnerships) develop and launch a consistent programme of opportunities across service units and will ensure more effective co-ordination of the Council’s recruitment, induction, training and support for apprenticeships, paid and unpaid work placements, work experience internships and volunteering;

(3) To ENDORSE the policy approach set out in the report including:

·  the provision of support, advice and help to managers;

·  increasing the number of participants in such schemes;

·  sharing of good practice;

·  the provision of consistent, high quality recruitment, induction, training and support processes;

·  minimum standards which can be applied to ensure that all services know what is expected of them when recruiting and managing participants

(4) To ASK Council services to make a  commitment to:

·  identify opportunities for apprenticeships, paid and unpaid work placements, work experience, internships and volunteering as part of the annual work force planning process;

·  undertake an annual survey of activity, to collect data on opportunities offered;

·  re-imburse travel expenses for people undertaking unpaid work placements and work experience through accessing internal support packages; and

·  report regularly to DDG on any issues, successes, concerns.

(5) To NOTE that the Council’s Procurement Strategy 2013-17 ‘Think Local’ approved by Cabinet in April 2013 committed the Council to prioritise Social Value. The Council now follows this policy which must recognise the local economic, environmental and social improvements that can come from each procurement, such as new jobs and apprenticeships; and

(6) To AGREE that the Council will prioritise the marketing of opportunities, encourage applications from and provide advice on applying for such schemes to:

·  Care leavers

·  Groups who are most at risk of long term unemployment

·  Those who live in disadvantaged wards

·  Those living in rural areas