Agenda item

(To receive a report from Many Ramm, Funding and Investment Manager, Infrastructure Investment and Thea Croxall, Adult Learning & Skills Manager, Economic Development, which invites the Committee to consider a report regarding the Multiple Adult Numeracy Programme in Lincolnshire, which is due to be considered by the Executive Councillor for Economic Development, Environment and Planning between 13 – 17 June 2022.  The views of the Committee will be passed on to the Executive Councillor as part of their consideration of this item)

Consideration was given to a report from Mandy Ramm, Funding and Investment Manager, Infrastructure Investment, which invited the Committee to consider the Multiply Adult Numeracy Programme in Lincolnshire, which was due to be considered by the Executive Councillor for Economic Development, Environment and Planning between 13 and 17 June 2022.

The Chairman invited Mandy Ramm, Funding and Investment Manager, Infrastructure Investment, to present the item to the Committee.

In guiding the Committee through the Executive report detailed at Appendix A, reference was made to: the County Council’s appointment as Lead Body for the Multiply Adult Numeracy Programme, and the requirement of the Council to submit an Investment Plan to the Department for Education by 30 June 2022, to  outline how the £4m will be spent in the county; that the new numeracy provision would be targeted at residents aged 19 years and over who did not have grade C/level 4 or above in GCSE maths; the benefits of the programme as a key component of the Government’s Levelling Up agenda to ensure that by 2030 a number of people would have successfully completed high quality skills training; numeracy in Lincolnshire, details of which were provided at paragraph 1.7 of the report; the intended benefits of the Multiply Programme in Lincolnshire; and details of the funding allocation spend.

In conclusion, the Committee noted that the £4m Multiply Programme provided an excellent investment opportunity to improve adult numeracy provision within Lincolnshire and provided a variety of benefits to drive wider skill provision in the county.  It was noted that this was in line with the Council Plan objectives particularly around enhancing the skills of the county’s communities and meeting the needs of businesses and the economy.

During discussion, the Committee raised some of the following comments:

·       Officers clarified that every upper tier council across England had received an allocation for the programme based on need.  Confirmation was given that officers had liaised with peers across East Midlands, and had participated in several webinars that the Department for Education had organised for Local Authorities to keep informed of developing and innovative activity and to share best practice;

·       Members were pleased to hear that the plans took into consideration engaging individuals furthest from the labour market and those who were expected to be reluctant to step forward and engage, due to negative social perceptions relevant to the lack of numeracy skills.  It was noted that this would be achieved in the first instance in collaboration with employers (particularly smaller ones) to address the lack of numeracy and literacy skills of employees, incorporated into activities undertaken as part of their work duties (e.g., money management, stock control, weighing and measuring, cookery etc).  Officers reassured the Committee that all different ways of engaging and working with community organisations were being explored.  It was highlighted that pilot activity funded through the Councils UK Community Renewal Funding award would be used to inform approaches to delivering the programme.  This included Abbey Access Training, which led a consortium of eight charities who had come together to engage and support hard to reach groups and individuals to receive learning support;

·       In relation to funding allocated over the three-year period, officers explained that funds unspent in the first year would be lost.  However, there was a degree of flexibility for any funds unspent in years two and three of the programme.  The Committee noted that year one was likely to focus heavily on marketing activity to get the message out to maximise engagement and take-up.  This activity was due to commence in September 2022, as soon as the Investment Plan had been approved.  It was acknowledged that getting the year one portion of funding spent was going to be a challenge, as the year one allocation would need to be spent by March 2023;

·       Members asked about plans to engage with schools to identify students who lacked skills, to improve before reaching the age of 19.  Officers agreed to explore ways to engage with practitioners and groups and organisations who were able to support this (noting that Multiply provision was for 19 years plus);

·       Members enquired whether areas identified as performing the worst in the county (namely, East Lindsey, Boston and South Holland) would be prioritised within in the plans.  Officers provided assurance that they were working with the Learning and Work Institute to identify pockets of deprivation and need but confirmed that the programme provided the opportunity for provision across the whole of the county, where investment would have the greatest impact.  It was highlighted that learning was being provided from Abbey Access Training in Lincoln, with the view to replicating that and any other best practice in Lincolnshire. Furthermore, it was emphasised that engagement with businesses (e.g., factories and warehouses etc.) was aimed at providing them with the opportunity and incentives as well as support to address the lack of numeracy skills, but where appropriate in a holistic manner including language skills etc.;

·       Members recommended looking into working with trade unions that already offered union funded learning opportunities and courses, and further working with union representatives to promote the programme.  Officers confirmed that they were keen to explore all opportunities; and

·       Members raised a concern on engaging individuals who were neither in education nor in employment (NEET), or at risk of becoming NEET.  Officers agreed that creative engagement methods were being considered, an example cited of this from a neighbouring authority was engaging with harder to reach youth groups through music to address lack of skills.  It was also noted that further engagement was also being considered through Citizens Advice Bureau and other community organisations, as well as creative ways of reaching out to different groups and communities such as a bus (noting that this would involve a capital outlay which would not be covered by the Multiply funding – collaborative opportunities being explored).  Officers also advised of the provision for programme delivery nation-wide through an online digital platform for maths and that was being delivered directly by the Department for Education as another component of the Multiply Programme.

The Chairman on behalf of the Committee extended his thanks to the presenter.

RESOLVED

1.      That unanimous support be given to the recommendations in the Executive Councillor report, as detailed on pages 17 and 18 of the report pack.

2.      That the above comments from the Public Protection and Communities Scrutiny Committee be forwarded on to the Executive Councillor for Economic Development, Environment and Planning in relation to this item.