Decision details

(1) To create the Employment and Skills Fund with an initial allocation from the Investment Fund of £15.68m to fund the first two years of delivery against the objectives of the Employment and Skills Plan.

(2) A formal review of the Employment and Skills Fund is presented to Committee 18 months after establishment of the Fund, covering performance to date and recommendations for the next allocation.

(3) If further UK Shared Prosperity Fund is confirmed for skills delivery by government, where possible this will replace the Investment Fund allocation within the Employment and Skills Fund and return it to Investment Fund headroom.

(4) Delegation of authority to the West of England Combined Authority Strategic Director of Economy and Skills, in consultation with equivalent Directors from the Unitary Authorities, to agree and administer funds (through the approval of Full Business Cases and Feasibility and Development Applications) and ensure delivery of initiatives under the Employment and Skills Fund (through approval of grant and/or contract funding recommendations). In event of consensus not being reached at Director level, decision making will be escalated to the West of England Mayoral Combined Authority’s Chief Executive Officer (CEO) in consultation with Unitary Authority CEOs