Agenda, decisions and draft minutes

www.swansea.gov.uk/disclosuresofinterests

Councillor H Lawson declared a personal interest in Minute 51 “Employability Programmes Update”.

In accordance with the Code of Conduct adopted by the City & County of Swansea, the following interest was declared:

Councillor H Lawson declared a personal interest in Minute 51 “Employability Programmes Update”.

To approve & sign the Minutes of the previous meeting(s) as a correct record.

Approved.

Resolved that the Minutes of the People Policy Development Committee held on 23 February 2022 be approved and signed as a correct record.

Elliott Williams

Update noted.

Elliott Williams, External Funding Manager provided a verbal update on the Employability Programmes:

·                    There had been an upturn in referrals for people with barriers to employment by removing some of the barriers and the additional support being put in place. 

·                    £700k had been secured via the Community Renewal Fund for the pilot “Pathways to Work” project that would run until June;

·                    The Economic Regeneration Fund application, which would build on the success of the “Kickstart” project had been approved.  This would support various paid work placements in the Council and would commence in April / May;

·                    The Shared Prosperity Fund would explore future employability provision, and provide opportunities to consider what would be funded and developed post European funding. 

·                    Pre-launch guidance was published in February and informal discussions had taken place with partners in advance of the submission of a bid.  The full prospectus was expected later in the Spring.

More comprehensive updates would be provided on all of the above in the next few months.

The Chair thanked the External Funding Manager for all the support he had provided the Policy Development Committee.

Anthony Richards

Update noted.

Anthony Richards, Poverty and Prevention Strategy Development Manager provided a verbal update in respect of the development of Swansea Council’s Volunteering Strategy.

·                    A Working Group of officers from across the Council had been established, facilitated by the Tackling Poverty Service who would meet regularly in order to co-produce the Volunteering Strategy;

·                    The first meeting was scheduled to take place later on in March.  They would work closely with SCVS and Western Bay partners to ensure that the development of the Council’s strategy would align with the Regional Strategy which was also being developed;

·                    The Working Group would establish the process and co-production of the Strategy with the key stakeholders and utilise all the relevant contacts with both existing volunteers and those who were interested in becoming a volunteer, to inform the development of the strategy;

·                    A toolkit would also be established alongside the strategy document which would have resources available to services across the Council to ensure consistency of approach in respect of hosting volunteering opportunities.

The Chair thanked the Poverty and Prevention Strategy Development Manager and the Interim Head of Adult Services for all the work undertaken and looked forward to receiving further updates in the new Municipal Year.

Gavin Evans

Update noted.

Gavin Evans, Principal Officer for Early Help, Partnership and Young People provided a verbal update on the Young Carers Strategy:

·                    Work continued with the Young Carers Steering Group to co-produce the action plan / strategy;

·                    Funding via the Regional Investment Fund had been confirmed for another year;

·                    As a result of the pandemic over the last two years, the Young Carers had prioritised the work around Young Carers Action Day.  Over 100 people attended the large event to celebrate the day, which was held on 16 March in the Brangwyn Hall.  The theme was “Taking Action on Isolation”.  Photographs and communication following the event would be circulated in due course; 

·                    The next two meetings of the Young Carers Steering Group would focus on combining all the work undertaken to date in respect of producing the action plan.

The Chair thanked the Principal Officer for the update and looked forward to further updates in the 2022-2023 Municipal Year.

Noted.

The Chair presented the Work Plan which outlined the work undertaken during 2021-2022.

He thanked the Committee and all the officers involved for their support over the last year.