Agenda and minutes

1.1  None.

2.1  None.

3.1  None.

4.1  Minutes of the meeting held on 5^th July 2017 were agreed.

5.1  The Chair welcomed to the meeting Sonia Khan, Head of Policy and Partnership from London Borough of Hackney.

5.2  Information about the local economy and data held by the council was requested by the Commission.  Information from the Local Economic Assessment was presented.  This data outlines the most recent data for Hackney covering: population, work and the economy.

5.3  The reports on pages 19-118 in the agenda covered the following:

5.3.1  The Business and Enterprisereport looked at how the local economy is performing and changing, the types of businesses in the borough and how this has changed in recent years.

5.3.2  The Employment and Economic activity and self-employment report profiles the working age population and workforce in Hackney. It examines employment in the borough using the latest official statistics as well as how this has changed in the decade between 2006 and 2016. This analysis focuses on resident employment as well as profiling employers in the borough.

5.3.3  The Occupations and Employers report examines occupations in the borough using the latest official statistics as well as how this has changed in the decade between 2006 and 2016. This analysis focuses on resident employment as well as profiling employers in the borough. The paper uses comparisons with neighbouring local authorities, the London region and Great Britain to provide a fuller analysis of Hackney’s performance.

5.3.4  The Qualifications and Earnings reportexamines qualifications, skills and earnings in the borough using the latest official statistics as well as how this has changed in the decade between 2006 and 2016. The paper uses comparisons with neighbouring local authorities, the London region and Great Britain to provide a fuller analysis of Hackney’s performance.

5.3.5  The Deprivation, Economic Inactivity, Worklessness and Benefits report looks at the levels of deprivation in Hackney and it examines economic inactivity, worklessness and benefits in the decade between 2006 and 2016 using the latest official statistics.

5.3.6  The Implications of Brexit for London Borough of Hackney briefingestimates the number and characteristics of EU residents in Hackney to identify industries which may be at most risk in terms of loss of access to labour and skills shortages in the wake of Brexit.  The second section provides an analysis of the way in which future growth expectations for Hackney may need to be re-examined based on lower numbers of net international migration in future.

5.3.7  The briefing also explored some of the possible wider implications for Hackney - these cover a range of issues connected with having a lower EU population, economic challenges which may arise from a period of uncertainty post-Brexit and changes to legislative and funding arrangements.

5.3.8  The Indices of Multiple Deprivation 2015 Briefing provides information on the Indices of Deprivation.  The Indices of Deprivation is based on small geographical areas called lower level Super Output Areas (LSOAs).  Hackney has 144 LSOAs and each LSOA across the country contains, on average, 1,500 residents and 650 households.

5.3.9  The officer highlighted the conclusions drawn from the information presented  ...  view the full minutes text for item 5.

6.1  The Chair welcomed to the meeting Councillor Carole Williams, Cabinet Member for Employment, Skills and Human Resources; Andrew Munk, Head of Employment and Skills; Gareth Wall, Head of Public Health and also in attendance was Paul Horobin, Head of Corporate Programmes, Corporate Strategy from London Borough of Hackney.

6.2  The Commission asked the Council to provide information about its employment support service Hackney Works (formally known as Ways into Work) in relation to the following:

1.  How the Council is helping to support residents that are further away from the current needs of the job market and;

2.  How the Council supports or provides a platform for employment support initiatives in the borough to work together. 

3.  In addition the Commission asked for comparisons of LBH’s work in this area to other similar employment support programmes.

6.3  The Cabinet Member for Employment, Skills and Human Resources opened the presentation with an overview the main points were:

·  Employment and skills is a Mayoral priority therefore quite a significant priority for the Council.  The Mayor has made a number of commitments to the Council’s employment support service Hackney Works (formally known as Ways into Work).

·  The Hackney apprenticeship programme was launched at the start of the year (2017).  The Council will be doing another tranche of recruitment for the programme early next year (2018).  In addition to further work on a pre apprenticeship programme.

·  The Council relaunched the Hackney 100 programme just before the summer.  The programme provides paid work placements for 16-19 year olds in growth sectors locally. 

·  Established the Economic Community Development Board (ECDB) taking a strategic overview.  A number of Executive members sit on this Board.

·  Working on an apprenticeship forum and this will be launched later this year (2017).

6.4  The Head of Employment and Skills made the following points:

6.4.1  The Council’s employment support service Hackney Works (formally known as Ways into Work) is expanding.  This service is delivered across 3 hubs: Hoxton; Homerton; Woodberry Down.  The 3 hubs selected represent the highest areas of deprivation in the borough. 

6.4.2  Within the team of employment advisers there are a number of specialist employment advisers focusing on key areas like welfare reform, the Government’s troubled families’ agenda and supported employment.  The service provision has now broadened to include in the offer support for under-employment. 

6.4.3  Hackney Works has a range of services like access to a personal adviser and action planning support, CV development, training, apprenticeships and work placements.  Everyone gets a personal adviser and part of the adviser’s role is to help with areas outside of employment support like housing advice and money advice.

6.4.4  A corporate apprenticeship programme is now established.  The team is supporting the delivery of 100 apprenticeships across the Council.  The apprenticeships created are across a diverse range of Council service areas.  All apprentices are aged 18+ and paid the London Living Wage.

6.4.5  The Hackney 100 programme provides paid work placements for 16-19 year olds in local growth sectors.  Phase 2  ...  view the full minutes text for item 6.

7.1  The work programme for WiH on pages 121-126 of the agenda is for information.  This is a working document which is regularly updated throughout the year.

7.2  Members commented if Hackney is to demonstrate success the Council needs to understand the resources needed to make a difference as they have been discussing under item 6.

7.3  The Chair advised the next meeting date for the Commission may change as she looks as doing a joint evidence session with the ECD Board in relation to the commission’s review.  Members of the Commission would be informed if the date changed.

8.1  None.