Motion submitted by Councillor McKinley
To consider the following Motion submitted by Councillor McKinley:
“Developing a Merseyside-wide strategic and operational plan to meet the functional literacy, numeracy and ICT needs of the adults of the Liverpool City Region (LCR).
The devolution deal for the LCR includes planning and delivering the learning and skills agenda. This is a great opportunity to develop a comprehensive wide ranging skills strategy that will meet the future needs of business and offer employment opportunities to our residents. It is recognised that we are making great progress in some areas with the allocation of £20 million plus which the local authorities have the lead on and will help to drive the learning and skills agenda. However, these opportunities will not be maximised for all residents unless we address the adult literacy, numeracy and ICT needs of all residents in a systematic and planned way.
Poor standards of English, maths and ICT is a significant factor in trapping individuals in the downward cycle of poverty and deprivation. Confidence in mathematics, written and spoken English are transformational skills that can make a huge difference to the lives and employment prospects of LCR residents. In Sefton and North Liverpool we have one of the highest concentrations of deprived lower super output areas in the country and amongst the highest level of need for adult literacy, numeracy and ICT in the UK.
Some good work is already in place, unfortunately, in spite of some excellent work done by local colleges and others, many areas across the City Region continue to be blighted by intergenerational unemployment and poor skills. A more strategic approach to adult literacy, numeracy and ICT will help to underpin any strategy to develop wider skills.
The LCR Employment and Skills Board is working to address the skills gap and a clearly focused strategic and operational plan for literacy, numeracy and ICT will help to drive this.
Sefton Council actively supports and endorses the development of a holistic Merseyside-wide plan to meet the adult literacy, numeracy and ICT needs of the LCR. Such a plan to be based on clear demographic profiling of areas of greatest need and work with all appropriate stakeholders to prioritise and target these areas to address residents’ functional literacy, numeracy and ICT needs.”
Minutes:
It was moved by Councillor McKinley, seconded by Councillor Sayers and following debate, unanimously
RESOLVED:
Developing a Merseyside-wide strategic and operational plan to meet the functional literacy, numeracy and ICT needs of the adults of the Liverpool City Region (LCR).
The devolution deal for the LCR includes planning and delivering the learning and skills agenda. This is a great opportunity to develop a comprehensive wide ranging skills strategy that will meet the future needs of business and offer employment opportunities to our residents. It is recognised that we are making great progress in some areas with the allocation of £20 million plus which the local authorities have the lead on and will help to drive the learning and skills agenda. However, these opportunities will not be maximised for all residents unless we address the adult literacy, numeracy and ICT needs of all residents in a systematic and planned way.
Poor standards of English, maths and ICT is a significant factor in trapping individuals in the downward cycle of poverty and deprivation. Confidence in mathematics, written and spoken English are transformational skills that can make a huge difference to the lives and employment prospects of LCR residents. In Sefton and North Liverpool we have one of the highest concentrations of deprived lower super output areas in the country and amongst the highest level of need for adult literacy, numeracy and ICT in the UK.
Some good work is already in place, unfortunately, in spite of some excellent work done by local colleges and others, many areas across the City Region continue to be blighted by intergenerational unemployment and poor skills. A more strategic approach to adult literacy, numeracy and ICT will help to underpin any strategy to develop wider skills.
The LCR Employment and Skills Board is working to address the skills gap and a clearly focused strategic and operational plan for literacy, numeracy and ICT will help to drive this.
Sefton Council actively supports and endorses the development of a holistic Merseyside-wide plan to meet the adult literacy, numeracy and ICT needs of the LCR. Such a plan to be based on clear demographic profiling of areas of greatest need and work with all appropriate stakeholders to prioritise and target these areas to address residents’ functional literacy, numeracy and ICT needs.