Report to: |
Lead Member Economy
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Date of meeting: |
23 February 2022
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By: |
Director of Communities, Economy and Transport
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Title: |
Working together partnership agreement between East Sussex County Council and the Department for Work and Pensions.
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Purpose: |
To seek Lead Member endorsement of the proposed working together partnership agreement between ESCC and DWP in relation to employability and skills work.
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RECOMMENDATIONS: The Lead Member is recommended to:
1) Review and approve the actions proposed in the appended Department for Work and Pensions – East Sussex County Council partnership agreement titled ‘Working in Partnership Across East Sussex’ and
2) approve that the agreement is reviewed annually by the Director of Communities, Economy and Transport and amended if required.
1.1 Following discussions with East Sussex County Council, the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has drafted a partnership agreement (Appendix 1). The agreement explores ways that the DWP can work with the County Council to better align their delivery with the wider work undertaken by the County Council and Skills East Sussex (SES), the recognised local strategic employment and skills board.
1.2 The DWP sits on the Skills East Sussex Board, but with an undefined remit, and the partnership agreement sets out a specific role for DWP and a commitment to joint working between the County Council and the DWP within the context of the Board and its task groups.
3. Risks and Challenges
3.1 The partnership agreement commits to delivering a set of actions which focus on:
· sharing information
· ensuring that DWP staff and SES partners are aware of the range of opportunities available to address unemployment in the county
· improving referral pathways into unemployment interventions delivered by a range of stakeholders in the county
· maximising use of resources
· avoiding duplication
3.2 In order to mitigate the risk or these actions slipping, the agreement proposes that the DWP and County Council meet six-monthly to monitor and review progress against targets to ensure that commitments are being adhered to on both sides of the partnership.
4.1 The proposals in the partnership agreement will have a positive impact on the ability of the DWP, ESCC and all SES Stakeholders to address the employment needs of East Sussex residents. Active participation by DWP in the Skills East Sussex Board, the Skills East Sussex Task Groups and the sharing of labour market information will enable better alignment of provision and a stronger offer for those who are unemployed, which is to be welcomed.
4.2 It is therefore recommended that the Lead Member approves that the proposal is formally adopted by the County Council and is reviewed annually thereafter.
Director of Communities, Economy and Transport
Contact Officer: Holly Aquilina, Employment and Skills Manager
Tel. No. 07960 942080
Email: holly.aquilina@eastsussex.gov.uk
LOCAL MEMBERS
All members
BACKGROUND DOCUMENTS
None