Agenda item

To note the response of Cabinet to the recommendations of the Green Skills Sub Group.

In November 2022 the sub-committee had appointed the Green Skills Sub Group to examine the Authority’s approach to adapting to a green industrial revolution and ensuring people have the right skills for the future green jobs. Having held a series of evidence gathering meetings with officers and key stakeholders during January and February 2022 the sub group had prepared a report setting out its findings, conclusions and recommendations. The sub-committee had approved the report on 10 May 2022 for submission to Cabinet.

The report had been presented to Cabinet at its meeting on 23 May 2022 by Councillor Matt Wilson. On 1 August 2022 the Cabinet had agreed its response to the report and recommendations. The Cabinet had accepted all but one of the recommendations. It had rejected the recommendation that the Authority commission a Retrofit Academy in North Tyneside for the delivery of PAS2035 qualifications because it did not have access to devolved skills funding to enable the direct commissioning of a Retrofit Academy. The commissioning of skills provision was carried out by the Education and Skills Funding Agency (ESFA) and via devolved funding to the North of Tyne Combined Authority (NTCA). Officers would therefore continue to work with colleagues from the NTCA to understand and utilise data from recent research such as ‘Skilling Up for Retrofitting’ on roles required and skills needs to influence the commissioning of current and future funding held by NTCA. This could include devolved Adult Education Budget (AEB), Skills for Growth and Skills Bootcamps funding to ensure that North Tyneside residents and businesses benefit from the provision of green skills funding.

The sub-committee expressed its disappointment with the decision of Cabinet not to pursue the commissioning of a Retrofit Academy in North Tyneside as the sub group had concluded that there was a need to deliver PAS 2035 courses and qualifications locally to equip people with the skills to deliver large scale retrofit programmes. The sub-committee recognised that the wording of the recommendation had been specific to the commissioning of an Academy in North Tyneside which may have limited the options available for its delivery. Members noted from the Cabinet’s response that the Authority would continue to work with the NTCA to understand and utilise data from recent research on roles required and skills needed to influence the commissioning of current and future funding held by NTCA and ensure that North Tyneside is well placed with the skills required to support the delivery of retrofitting schemes. It was suggested that the sub-committee write to the relevant Cabinet Members to register its disappointment with the decision to reject the recommendation and to express its support for the commissioning of any PAS2035 courses and qualifications by the NTCA which would ensure that North Tyneside is well placed with the skills required to support the delivery of retrofitting schemes.

It was agreed that (1) the Cabinet’s response to the report and recommendations of the Green Skills Sub Group be noted; and

(2) the sub-committee write to the relevant Cabinet Members to register its disappointment with the decision to reject the recommendation and to express its support for any action the Authority can take to work with the North of Tyne Combined Authority to commission PAS2035 courses and qualifications which would ensure that North Tyneside is well placed with the skills required to support the delivery of retrofitting schemes.