Decision details

This matter was the responsibility of Executive Member for Planning, Transportation and Economic Development, Councillor Mike Rigby, who introduced the item.

The report presented a proposal for the adoption of a new corporate policy that stated the Council’s position in relation to increasing local skills and employment opportunities generated by new developments for people within the district. 

During the discussion, the following points were raised:-

·       Councillors queried what the effect of this would be and how it would be monitored from any baseline and also influence providers of training?

·       There were no baselines at the moment. It was considered difficult to baseline when looking at statistics and the number of external factors which could influence this. The Council would be counting the number of jobs and tracking this over time, which would build a year on year picture going forward. The Council would be brokering relationships with local training providers and businesses.

·       It was commented that there was felt to not be a shortage of work but that there was a need for skills pool improvement locally e.g. in the Construction area bringing in local apprentices. There was considered to be a skills shortage in the carbon neutral/environmentally friendly building sector.

RESOLVED that the Executive:

i)                 Approved the adoption of the SWT Local Labour Agreement Policy and Technical Guidance Note (attached as Appendices 1 and 2 to this report) as a material planning consideration in the preparation of masterplans, pre-application advice and the assessment of major planning applications and any other development management purposes.

ii)               Delegated the approval of any future changes to the Technical Guidance Note (Appendix 2), including thresholds and target levels to the Portfolio Holder Economic Development, Planning and Transportation and the Director of Place and Climate Change.