Agenda and minutes

1.1  Apologies for absence from Cllr Sharman.

1.2  Apologies for lateness from Cllr Moule.

1.3  Apologies for leaving early Cllr Ozsen.

2.1  There were no urgent items and the discussion was as per the agenda.

3.1  None.

4.1  Cllr Coban advised his apologies for the last meeting were not recorded.  Minutes to be amended for point 1.1 to note Cllr Coban’s apologies for absence.

4.2  Minutes of the meeting held on 14^th December 2018 were agreed subject to the amendment noted in point 4.1.

5.1  At the last Working in Hackney (WiH) Scrutiny Commission meeting the revealed the Economic Community Development Board was still in the development phase for their Economic Development Strategy.  In replace of the scheduled update the Commission was given the opportunity to provide critical challenge to the development phase of this strategy.

5.2  The Chair welcomed to the meeting Stephen Haynes, Director, Strategy, Policy & Economic Development, Paul Horobin, Head of Corporate Programmes and Andrew Munk – Head of Employment and Skills from London Borough of Hackney.

5.3  The Chair opened the discussion by explaining the Commission was holding a workshop style session to look at the officer’s work on the draft economic strategy in advance of the officers presenting the final draft to the Economic Community Development Board for agreement.  The Chair explained the Commission had the opportunity (unusually) to engage at a very early stage in the process.  The aim from this discussion was not to co-produce the strategy, because the Commission does not want to compromise its role as a critical friend, but to review the progress made and provide critical challenge to the proposed content.

5.4  In the meeting Members reviewed with officers the draft strategy and split into 2 groups to discuss the following 2 questions:

1.  Members were asked to identify any gaps in the Strategy? 

2.  Members were asked if the strategy content identified with Hackney and addressed the challenges specific to Hackney.

5.5  The Director, Strategy, Policy & Economic Development commenced the session with the following opening comments:

5.5.1  The Council and Mayor of Hackney are committed to an economic development approach that is about ensuring no one gets left behind and that has tackling inequalities at the heart of the strategy.

5.5.2  The Council is focusing on inclusive growth and this is explained in the strategy.  The Centre for Local Economic Strategy has commented marrying growth with social inclusion is like 2 sides of the same coin.  It’s not just about income and developing an area from a purely economic prospective; but also about making sure the community is involved in the process; can benefit from that process and sees where the value lies in taking this approach.  The Council is developing its community strategy and makes reference to the themes in this approach.

5.5.3  The officer explained the council is making efforts to communicate vigorously about this inclusive approach to economic development.  Highlighting it was the first time the council combined structural change – services shifting their focus – with a strategic approach so they can have the right team, doing the right things, for the right reasons.  This is a strong set of drivers and it is being communicated to officers these are top mayoral priorities.

5.6  The Council is holding a number of discussion on:

·  In work poverty

·  The role of the council and partners to support residents to move and progress in their career

·  Skills and the hollowing out of the labour market

·  The impact of  ...  view the full minutes text for item 5.

6.1  The notes from the Working in Hackney (WiH) evidence event held on 29^th November 2017 were noted on pages 21-46 of the agenda. 

6.2  The Chair commenced the discussion with a recapped of the review to date.  The Chair highlighted the Commission has heard from Resolution Foundation, Fabian Society, IPPR and Central London Forward about the predications, challenges and future impacts on the future world of work and skills in the next 5-10 years.

6.3  The Commission would be conducting an afternoon of site visits on Monday 19^th February 2018 to 2 workspaces in the borough.  The visits would be to the Bootstrap in Dalston and The Brew in Shoreditch. 

6.4  The Chair explained the aim of the site visits was to get a better understanding of self-employment in Hackney and the changing work environment.  Members agreed to send out questions in advance to the businesses being visited.

6.5  In addition to site visits to the Commission would be hosting a focus group discussion with residents on Monday 19^th February to talk about employment and obtain their views about the world of work and skills. 

6.6  The site visits and focus groups would give the Commission information about local views and experiences and they could compare this to the expert’s views they have heard from.  Members agreed to send out questions in advance of the focus group so that residents could prepared for the session.  The focus groups would be grouped as follows:

·  Self employed

·  Part time and Full Time employment

·  Casual/temporary and zero hours contract.

6.7  The Chair suggested the Commission holds a further evidence session focusing on skills to hear from skills providers.  In response to this a Member suggested this may duplicate the work carried out by Community Safety and Social Inclusion Scrutiny Commission (CSSI) in their Apprenticeship Review recently.  It was noted this review heard from skills providers.  It was suggested this report was reviewed for any significant gaps to follow up on.

6.8  The Chair pointed out the focus on skills was to consider how the Council could maximise employers input into skills.

6.9  The Chair advised the WiH review report would focus on the following areas which they have identified are specific to Hackney, in relation to the future world of work and skills.

·  A rise in self-employment. 

·  Local Employers and their involvement in skills.

·  Housing and land values and the impact of Hackney’s property prices and land values on local employment. 

·  Polarisation of jobs between high and low. 

·  Brexit Impact the anticipate impact on sectors like construction, hospitality and retail. 

7.1  The next WiH is scheduled for Wednesday 14^th March and the Chair suggested this meeting date was moved to Monday 12^th March 2018.

  Members present at the meeting agreed to move the meeting date.

7.2  The Members discussed the work programme and considered the next session scheduled in the work programme.  The session scheduled was a discussion on inequalities.  The Chair proposed they move the inequalities discussion to the new municipal year and hold a further evidence session for the review on skills. 

8.1  None.