Decision details

The Committee agreed the draft scope of the review as presented to them with the following changes and additions:

The Chair indicated that he proposed an additional issue be added to the focus of the review, namely that the review should assess the impact of the work that the Council and its partners are doing in response to the pandemic to enhance the wellbeing of the local workforce, the business community and the people of Stevenage.

The Committee agreed to look at the question of what has been the economic impact of the pandemic on women.

The Committee agreed to include addressing the issue of matching the skills and aspirations of young people who have been disproportionately affected by the pandemic to the businesses that might thrive and grow post the pandemic.

Cllr Simon Speller offered to head up a sub group with Cllrs Adam Mitchell and Maureen McKay to look at the initiatives to address young people, specifically those who may not get picked up by the more traditional outreaches of schools and the County Council and to look at engaging with outreach teams from local employers to promote STEM subjects and opportunities in secondary schools in Stevenage.

Cllr Loraine Rossati agreed to look into the effect of the pandemic on women assisted by an appropriate officer and Cllr Sandra Barr agreed to look into the work that North Herts College are doing with non-vocational studies and students that do not have clear employment pathways, and it was suggested that a relevant representative of North Herts College be invited as a witness.

The Chair indicated that he wanted 2 witness interview sessions, the first on 13 January with a focus internally with Executive Members and Council officers and then the second on a further date (yet to be determined) with external witnesses from local businesses and citizens affected by the pandemic.

The 13 January session should be with the Leader of the Council, the Executive Portfolio Holder for Economy, Enterprise and Transport, Cllr Lloyd Briscoe, the Strategic Director Finance, Strategic Director Environment, Assistant Director Planning and Regulatory and the Business Relationship Manager. The Strategic Director, Tom Pike agreed to meet up with the Chair and the Scrutiny Officer to map out which officers are dealing with the specific responses to the Economic response to the pandemic and therefore who it would be best to speak to.

For external witnesses the Committee were recommended by the Vice-Chair to speak to a charity called Setpoint Hertfordshire who are based in Stevenage and they visit schools to promote STEM subjects, Helen Spencer was suggested as a contact to interview. Youth Connexions would also be invited for their work with hard to reach young people, Judith Sutton was suggested as a good contact. It was suggested that a representative of a trade union should be included in the list of witnesses.

Regarding equalities and diversity issues it was recognised that many of the characteristic groups have been affected economically and psychologically by the pandemic including the disabled, BAME, younger people, older people etc. and would need to be addressed.

Regarding constraints the issues of resources and staff time is one who may be diverted by urgent work to directly respond to the pandemic as well as time to complete the review, access to the appropriate and available data and access to third party partners such as sixth form and FE colleges to provide insight.

It was RESOLVED:

That the scoping document be agreed with the following additions and amendments:

(1)  That an additional issue be listed in the bullet points for the focus of the review to encapsulate the desire to see what impact the Council and its partners are making to enhance the wellbeing of the local workforce, businesses and its citizens throughout the pandemic;

(2)  That the review assess the economic impact of the pandemic on women, to which Cllr Loraine Rossati agreed to lead on with the assistance from officers;

(3)  That the review assess specifically the impact on young people, with a focus on outreach work to schools on STEM subjects which would be led by a sub group headed up by Cllr Simon Speller and to include the Vice-Chair Cllr Adam Mitchell, Cllr Maureen McKay and with Cllr Sandra Barr who agreed to look into those young people who are left behind and would link up with North Herts College;

(4)  That there would be two main witness interview sessions, the first on 13 January 2021 focusing on internal Member and officer interviews and a second session (date yet to be determined) to interview external witnesses from businesses and the local workforce;

(5)  That the Strategic Director, Tom Pike, the Assistant Director, Steve Dupoy and the Scrutiny Officer agreed to meet with the Chair to map out the interview process, and further evidence required; and

(6)  That the amended scoping document be represented to the Committee at its next meeting of the Committee.