Decision details

Wolves at Work 18-24 - Youth Employment

Decision Maker: Cabinet

Decision status: Recommendations Approved

Is Key decision?: Yes

Is subject to call in?: No

Purpose:

To approve a series of dedicated and focused interventions to support 18-24 year olds into work over a 12 month period.

Decision:

That Cabinet approves (subject to the support and endorsement of Full Council on 3 November 2021):

 

1.      The launch of a new Wolves at Work 18-24 Programme of targeted interventions which puts our young people at the centre of activity and urgently delivers the step change needed in our City to give unemployed young people opportunities for secure, sustainable employment, apprenticeships, education or training.

 

2.   An initial £3 million budget, from a combination of the Recovery Reserve and Covid Emergency Grant, to deliver Wolves at Work 18-24 and galvanise a ‘One City’ approach to create opportunities for our young people.

 

3.      The establishment of a £100,000 ‘City Ideas Fund’, initially (funded from the £3 million available), for City employers and partners to bid for and put forward ideas that will get more young people into sustained employment, apprenticeships, education or training.

 

4.      The delegation of authority to the Leader of the Council, in consultation with the Chief Executive and the Director of Finance, to approve:

 

a.    Wolves at Work 18-24 targeted interventions and the allocation of the associated budget (from the £3 million available).

 

b.    The scope and governance arrangements for the ‘City Ideas Fund’.

 

That Cabinet notes that:

 

1.      Delivering Wolves at Work 18-24 is the Council and City’s number one priority and needs a coordinated and sustained response from the Council, City employers and partners, the West Midlands Combined Authority and Government Departments, as a result:

 

a.      The Leader of the Council will be the Lead Cabinet Member.

 

b.      The Chief Executive will fulfil the role of Accountable Director, with day-to-day responsibility being delegated to the Deputy Chief Executive, who will fulfil the role of Senior Responsible Officer (SRO).

 

2.      The Council is committed to holding a Wolves at Work 18-24 City Summit to bring together a range of key partners (local, regional and national) and employers to forge a ‘One City’ approach to tackling the underlying issues which transcend organisational boundaries.

 

3.      The progress and impact of Wolves at Work 18-24 would be reported to Councillors as part of the established corporate performance and budget monitoring arrangements.

 

4.      The existing Governance arrangements relating to youth unemployment within the Council and across the City, would be mapped and reviewed to ensure that they are making a positive contribution towards Wolves at Work 18-24.

Report author: Julie Obada

Publication date: 21/10/2021

Date of decision: 20/10/2021

Decided at meeting: 20/10/2021 - Cabinet

Accompanying Documents: