Councillors Caldwell, Cameron, Andy Doig, Glen, Provost Hall and Councillors Harte, Holmes, Hood, K MacLaren, J Sharkey and Nicolson.

Councillor Glen, Convener, presided.

M Crearie, Director of Development & Housing Services; F Carlin, Head of Planning & Economic Development, A Morrison, Head of Regeneration, R Cooper, Economic Development Manager and V Howie, Finance & Resource Manager (all Development & Housing Services) and D Forbes, Finance Manager and R Devine, Senior Committee Services Officer (both Finance & Resources).

Prior to the start of the meeting the Convener welcomed Councillor K MacLaren to his first meeting of the Policy Board since his appointment as a member and also took the opportunity to welcome A Morrison to his first meeting since his appointment as Head of Regeneration.

Councillors McCartin, Mack and Mullin.

There were no declarations of interest intimated prior to commencement of the meeting.

There was submitted a joint revenue budget monitoring report by the Directors of Finance & Resources and Development & Housing Services for the period 1 April to 26 June, 2015.

DECIDED:

(a) That the budget position be noted; and

(b) That it be noted that there had been net budget re-alignments of £113,834, related to the drawdown of ringfenced Town Centre reserves, processed since the budget was approved.

There was submitted a capital budget monitoring report by the Director of Finance & Resources for the period 1 April to 26 June, 2015.

DECIDED: That the report be noted.

There was submitted a report by the Director of Development & Housing Services relative to the Scotland’s Employer Recruitment Incentive (SERI) and specifically outlining how the programme would contribute to Renfrewshire’s intended recruitment incentives over the next three-year period.

The report made reference to wage incentive programmes available to local employers, who created jobs for young, unemployed people, which had assisted in significantly reducing youth unemployment. These initiatives were funded with support from Renfrewshire Council and the Scottish Government via the Invest in Renfrewshire (IIR) programme, European Social Fund monies and the Employer Recruitment Incentive. The report stated that the previous programme of Scottish Government support had ended on 30 June, 2015, and a new programme, Scotland’s Employer Recruitment Incentive (SERI), launched on 1 July, 2015 for a period of nine months.

The Council had been offered SERI grant funding, for the period 1 July, 2015 to 31 March, 2016, of up to £370,429 for 83 fully-funded places subject to the posts being sustained for 12 months. The Chief Executive had accepted the offer on behalf of the Council.  It was proposed to integrate the SERI offer into the wider IIR programme and to match the allocation into the Youth Employment Initiative (YEI) to offer a total of 249 additional places.  Full details of the eligibility criteria and conditions of the SERI 2015/18 programme, which would be operated by Invest in Renfrewshire from 1 July, 2015, were provided.





DECIDED:

(a) That the actions of the Chief Executive in accepting the offer of SERI support from the Scottish Government for the period 1 July, 2015 to 31 March, 2016, be homologated; and

(b) That it be agreed that further updates on the project be submitted to future meetings of this Board.

There was submitted a report by the Director of Development & Housing Services relative to the delivery of the Business Gateway Service in Renfrewshire.

The report provided an overview of the services provided by Business Gateway and Business Gateway in Renfrewshire, together with details of performance attained against key performance indicators. It was highlighted that Renfrewshire Council managed the Business Gateway contract, which had been awarded to Lanarkshire Enterprise Services Limited, in respect of the East Renfrewshire, Inverclyde and Renfrewshire Council areas. The three Councils involved wished to undertake an assessment in relation to options for delivery and achievement of the objectives of the local Business Gateway. The delivery options included (i) the status quo; (ii) tendering some elements of the programme; and (iii) delivery in-house. The findings and recommendations of the options appraisal would be submitted to a future meeting of the Policy Board.

The existing Business Gateway contract, which expired on 30 September, 2015, included the option to renew for a further two individual years and the report intimated that pending the outcome of the options assessment the contract would be continued for a further one year period to 30 September, 2016.

DECIDED:

(a) That the ongoing delivery and performance of the Business Gateway service in the Renfrewshire Council area be noted;

(b) That it be noted that the existing Business Gateway contract would continue for a further one year period to 30 September, 2016; and

(c) That the Director of Development & Housing Services undertake an options appraisal to consider the most appropriate delivery model for the Business Gateway service and submit a report detailing the outcomes and recommendations to a future meeting of the Board.

There was submitted a report by the Director of Development & Housing Services relative to the development of InCube, the Council’s creative retail business incubator, at 27 High Street, Paisley.

The report detailed the core services provided within InCube, provided an update in respect of the programme of support available and outlined proposed future developments.

DECIDED:

(a) That the progress made in the delivery of the Business Incubator at 27 High Street, Paisley be noted; and

(b) That it be agreed that further updates on the project be submitted to future meetings of the Policy Board.

There was submitted a report by the Director of Development & Housing Services relative to progress made in respect of the delivery of traineeships to unemployed Renfrewshire residents and seeking approval for the delivery,  as a pilot project, of ten places through local social economy organisations.

The report made reference to the decision taken at the meeting of this Policy Board held on 4 September, 2013, to commit £200,000 of Invest in Renfrewshire resources to establish a range of Council-based traineeship programmes. It was highlighted that in this connection, between January 2014 and March 2015, 46 full-time traineeships had been created across the Council, with 26 trainees moving into employment on completion of their traineeship.  During the programme a need had been identified for a part-time entry- level traineeship model for young people who required additional support, training and personal development work to address their barriers to work. As a result entry level traineeships, in vocational areas, which offered 21 hours per week of work experience, supplemented by appropriate additional training, had been created within the Council. It was highlighted that participants received a training allowance, based on the living wage rate for the hours of work experience, provided that the training hours were undertaken by the trainee.  The report proposed that a similar initiative be piloted with ten local social enterprises. A summary of the aims of the pilot project, eligibility criteria, and delivery and management arrangements was provided. 

DECIDED:

(a) That the successful introduction of the entry level traineeship model for young people requiring significant levels of training and support be noted;

(b) That the allocation of ten similar traineeships for use within the local social economy sector be approved; and

(c) That it be agreed that further updates on the use of traineeships to address unemployment in Renfrewshire and deliver projects of community benefit be provided.

There was submitted a report by the Director of Development & Housing Services relative to the Employability Fund contract secured for the 2015/16 period.






The report advised that the Employability Fund was a national training programme managed by Skills Development Scotland which offered employability training to unemployed people at stages 2, 3 and 4 of the employability pipeline. It was highlighted that the Employability Fund supported financially the Council’s Training Opportunities in the Public Sector (TOPS) programme, which delivered vocational training and work experience to unemployed residents of Renfrewshire.

Renfrewshire Council had participated in the delivery of the Employability Fund since its inception, being awarded 65 places in 2013/14 and 32 places in 2014/15.  Intimation had recently been received that the Council’s 2015/16 application had been successful with 60 places awarded at a range of skill levels for each of the three age groups within the Employability Fund criteria.  The maximum contract value was £96,579, comprising £45,000 for starts on the programme; £25,329 for qualifications and positive outcomes; and £26,250 for training and travel allowances.
The total funding awarded to the Council would depend on the outcomes achieved and the allowances provided.  The current programme was on track to deliver, and potentially exceed, the outcomes required.

DECIDED:

(a) That the success in securing 60 Employability Fund places in 2015/16 to support the Council’s Training Opportunities in the Public Sector (TOPS) programme be noted; and

(b) That it be agreed that a further report providing an update on contract performance in 2015/16 be submitted to a future meeting of the Policy Board.

There was submitted a report by the Director of Development & Housing Services relative to the 2014/20 European Structural Fund Competitiveness Programme (ERDF).

The report stated that Renfrewshire Council utilised the ERDF programme to augment Council-led business support activities and better integrate local and national business support services. In addition it was noted that Renfrewshire Council was the lead partner for the Business Gateway services across the East Renfrewshire,  Inverclyde and Renfrewshire Council areas. 

A summary of the key objectives of the new ERDF programme was provided and the requirement for lead partners to be accountable for managing the Business Competitiveness strategic intervention at a local level was highlighted.  Details of how Renfrewshire Council currently managed the Business Gateway service process were outlined and it was proposed that Renfrewshire Council also act as lead partner for future ERDF applications to the European Structural Fund (ESF).
 
It was noted that an outline application for funding had been submitted in terms of the Business Competitiveness element of the ESF Programme 2014/20 and that £706,112 had been awarded notionally to the wider Renfrewshire area. The Director of Development & Housing Services had accepted the offer on behalf of the Council.  The report advised that a finalised application, detailing a range of business development proposals to be funded by the monies awarded and the anticipated outcomes, would be submitted in due course.




The report also advised that the payment model for ESF programmes had been changed from a flat rate of payment to an outputs and outcome model.  A range of business development proposals for the area and a set of targets would be established in due course and form the basis for the future drawdown of ERDF awards.   

DECIDED:

(a) That the action of the Director of Development & Housing Services in accepting the notional offer of European Union grant of £706,112 for the delivery from 1 October, 2015, of the Business Competitiveness Programme in East Renfrewshire, Inverclyde and Renfrewshire Council areas be homolgated;

(b) That it be agreed that Renfrewshire Council continue to be lead partner for ERDF applications spanning  East Renfrewshire, Inverclyde and Renfrewshire Council areas;

(c) That the Director of Development & Housing Services be authorised to develop a range of business development proposals for the area to draw down the offer of grant; and

(d) That regular reports on the activity funded through this programme be submitted to future meetings of the Policy Board.

There was submitted a report by the Director of Development & Housing Services relative to the progress attained in respect of the delivery of Project Search.

The report made reference to the decision taken at the meeting of this Policy Board held on 20 May, 2015 to commit £200,000 over two years to Project Search, an employability programme.  A summary of the arrangements made to deliver the project locally was provided.

DECIDED:

(a) That the progress to date in delivering Project Search be noted; and

(b) That it be agreed that a further report providing an update on Project Search performance be submitted to a future meeting of the Policy Board.

There was submitted an update report by the Director of Development & Housing Services relative to labour market statistics for Renfrewshire as at 30 June, 2015, and providing comparisons, where data was available, with Scottish and UK markets. The Renfrewshire Economic Development Newsletter – August 2015, which contained information on wider Economic Development activities within Renfrewshire and the most up-to-date statistics on the Invest in Renfrewshire programme, was appended to the report.




The report highlighted that the percentage of Job Seeker Allowance (JSA) claimants in Renfrewshire, although higher than the UK average figure, had fallen from 3.3% in June 2014 to 2.8% in June 2015. Youth unemployment had fallen from 5.9% in June 2014 to 4.1% in the same period. Adult unemployment for JSA claimants aged 25 – 49 had fallen from 3.7% in June 2014 to 3.2% in June 2015 while the adult JSA rates for those aged 50+ had decreased, in line with the average Scottish reduction, by 0.1% from May 2015.

Following discussion about the decrease in adult JSA rates for those aged 50+ it was proposed that a presentation be made at a future meeting of this Board on the challenges and barriers faced by people aged 50+ to access the workplace, in order to analyse and identify options for further assistance. This was agreed.

DECIDED:

(a) That the report and the improving unemployment figures across Renfrewshire be noted; and

(b) That a presentation be made at a future meeting of this Board on the challenges and barriers faced by people aged 50+ to access the workplace, in order to analyse and identify options for further assistance.