Issue - meetings

(a)       That the report be noted; and

(b)       That a further update be provided to a future meeting of the Committee on developments to address a possible skills shortage in the labour market in the future. 

The Director of Lifelong Learning introduced a report to provide an overview of the renewed Directorate Plan for 2013/14 as part of the Council Governance Framework.  Members were invited to consider the Plan and identify any issues which ought to be included in the forward work plan for the Lifelong Learning Overview and Scrutiny Committee. The Chairman referred to the detailed discussions which had taken place at the recent Forward Work Planning workshop held on 9 July 2013.  

Councillor W.P. Shotton referred to the information that Flintshire was one of the highest performing local authorities in Wales on indicators at Key Stages 3 and 4.  However, further improvement was required in the Foundation Phase and Key Stage 2, and specific intervention strategies for Literacy and Numeracy were working well.   He also congratulated Officers on the new build of Ysgol Cae’r Nant  which had been completed on time and in budget.  The Director commended the work of Members who were involved in the School Performance Monitoring Group.

Councillor W.P. Shotton referred to a possible skills shortage in the labour market in the future and asked if provision was being made in terms of apprenticeships and training opportunities to address the matter.  The Director referred to a report which had recently been submitted to the Local Service Board.  He advised that a dedicated internship work experience programme for graduates was to be launched and that together with neighbouring local authorities in North Wales it was hoped to introduce a Skills Academy to address the issue.  He advised that a further update report would be provided to the Committee on this subject in due course. 

Mr. D. Hytch referred to page 21 of the Directorate Plan and the list of key Strategic Partnerships and asked that school governors be included in the list.  The Director expressed his thanks to school Governing Bodies for their support and commitment to school communities.     

RESOLVED:

 (a)      That the report be noted; and

(b)       That a further update be provided to a future meeting of the Committee on developments to address a possible skills shortage in the labour market in the future.