Decision details

The Cabinet will be asked to consider proposals to enter into an agreement with the London Borough of Hackney to draw down up to £955,893 in funding from the Host borough Employment Programme over 2010/11 – 2013/14. The programme is funded by the Greater London Authority with Hackney as the accountable body and it is designed to support those who are long –term unemployed and not supported by other mainstream programmes

The Cabinet Member for Regeneration presented a report on the availability of funding of approximately £950,000 over the three years 2011/12 - 2013/14 via the Olympic Host Borough Employment and Skills Programme to support further initiatives aimed at tackling worklessness in the Borough.

The Cabinet Member advised that the funding would primarily be aimed at the Borough’s Job Shops but due to the sum involved and the restrictive eligibility criteria, discussions had already commenced regarding the possibility of work-related activities being undertaken in the Borough’s Children’s Centres.  Further initiatives involving Jobcentre Plus, the Adult College of Barking and Dagenham and other potential partners were also being explored in order to maximise the opportunity to improve the job prospects and aspirations of the local community. 

Cabinet agreed that a Deed of Variation be entered into with the London Borough of Hackney, as the accountable body for the Host Borough Employment and Skills Programme, to allow for additional grant funding in the sum of £955,892.71 to be provided to the Council.