Agenda item

The People, Performance and Development Committee (PPDC) acts as the Council’s Remuneration Committee under delegated powers, in accordance with the constitution of the County Council. The purpose of this paper is to update members on the changes to the Council’s Apprenticeship Scheme as a result upcoming Apprenticeship Reforms. This includes an update on Government policy as well as information on communications and engagement.

Declarations of interest:

None

Witnesses:

Ken Akers, Head of HR & OD

Key points raised during the discussion:

1.    An additional paper was tabled at the meeting which provided details of how the apprenticeship levy could contribute towards training for existing members of staff. The paper is attached as Annex 2 to these minutes.

2.    The Committee asked whether it the provision of training through the apprenticeship levy would require participating staff to be granted time off work in order to complete qualifications. Officers stated that in some instances this would be necessary although the expectation was that in most cases training would be completed at work.

3.    Members requested further information on the extent to which SCC would be able to claw back funds committed as part of the Apprenticeship Levy. The Committee was informed that under the Government’s Apprenticeship Reforms SCC had been required to commit 0.5% of its annual staff budget to a ring-fenced digital account the money from which could only be used to train apprentices. There were, however, opportunities for SCC to claw back some funding by reducing duplication in spend from its training budget. The Apprenticeship Reforms could also lead to improved efficiency through enhanced training opportunities for staff. Officers indicated that SCC had also been working with other large local authorities in the South East to create lists of accredited providers and to deliver improved economies of scale.

4.    Officers were asked to return to the Committee with a report detailing the number of employees across SCC who could benefit from training as part of the Apprenticeship Reforms.

5.    The Chairman of the Committee told Members that he had written to the Secretary of State for Education expressing concern regarding the inclusion of schools within the reforms on account of the fact that it may be necessary for some smaller schools to make staff members redundant in order to take on an apprentice. The Chairman stated that he would share the Secretary of State’s response with the Committee once it had been received. Members highlighted that some lateral thought would be required around training opportunities to ensure that schools were not adversely impacted by the introduction of the Apprenticeship Reforms. Officers advised that SCC would work closely with Babcock 4S in order to achieve this and would bring a report to PPDC at a future date which included proposals to ensure that staff benefitted from the reforms.

6.    PPDC was informed that SCC had not submitted an individual response to the Government’s consultation on the introduction of the reforms but had taken the decision to endorse the Local Government Association’s (LGA) response. Members stressed that they felt SCC should have provided an individual response to the consultation.

Actions/ further information to be provided:

1.    The Head of HR & OD to bring a report to the People, Performance and Development Committee to facilitate a discussion on the number of employees across the organisation who could benefit from training as part of the Government's Apprenticeship Reforms. (Action Ref: A1/17)

2.    The Head of HR & OD to bring a report to the People, Performance and Development Committee detailing how the Council can support schools on successful and effective implementation of the Apprenticeship Reforms. (Action Ref: A2/17)

3.    Response to the Chairman of PPDC's letter to the Secretary of State for Education regarding the Apprenticeship Reforms to be shared with the Committee. (Action Ref: A3/17)

RESOLVED: That;

the People, Performance and Development Committee note updates on the Apprenticeship Reforms.