DD1395 GLA ESF Youth Programme

1.1 In February 2012, the Mayor, under cover of MD 948, approved the allocation of £10m funding for the GLA’s European Social Fund (ESF) Co-Financing Plan for the ESF 2011-2013 programme, (£5m GLA funding, matched by an equivalent sum of ESF on a 50/50 basis); and delegated authority to the Executive Director, Communities and Intelligence (C&I), to approve the allocation of GLA ESF.

1.2 The Executive Director of Communities and Intelligence authorised, under cover of DD 875, on 10 August 2012 the allocation of funding to eight projects, Excluded from School theme (EFS) 1 and 2, Learning Difficulties and/or Disabilities theme (LDD) 1, 2 and 3, and Young Offenders theme (YO) 1, 2 and 3). The allocation of funding for the YO2 project was subsequently superseded by the decision of the Executive Director of Communities and Intelligence, under cover of DD 1105, when the initial preferred supplier withdrew their intention to deliver.

1.3 The IPB report presented by the Assistant Director, Health and Communities to the March 2014 meeting updated on delivery issues for the YO strand of the programme, and recommended that;

1.3.1 the amalgamated total for payable entry to employment outcomes for the YO1 and YO3 projects be reduced to 100; and

1.3.2 the relevant funding agreements be varied in accordance with the process for and documented as set out in each of those funding agreements.

1.4 All recommendations were agreed in principle.

1.5 Grant Agreements were subsequently varied to allow up to 51 entry to education outcomes to be paid against the YO1 agreement and for 49 entry to education outcomes to be paid against the YO3 agreement.

1.6 The Delivery Partner has now maximised delivery of this outcome in the YO1 agreement, whilst in the YO3 agreement they have delivered less than the maximum allowable and therefore, the following amendments to Grant Agreements are recommended for approval;

1.6.1 that the maximum number of claimable entry to education outcomes in the YO1 Grant Agreement be increased to 54; and

1.6.2 that the maximum number of claimable entry to education outcomes in the YO3 Grant Agreement be reduced to 46.

1.7 Reducing the YO3 Grant Agreement will ensure that amalgamated claimable outcomes will not be possible beyond the volumes agreed at the March 2014 IPB Meeting.

1.8 The IPB report presented by the Assistant Director, Health and Communities to the October 2014 meeting updated on delivery issues for the EFS and LDD strands of the programme, and recommended that:

1.8.1 the Grant Agreements for EFS1, EFS2, LDD1, LDD2, LDD3 and YO2 are amended to extend the final date that the achievement of Outcomes can be counted from 31 August 2015 to 18 September 2015;

1.8.2 claims for sustained outcomes be required to be made by the current claim submission date of 16 October 2015;

1.8.3 the revision be managed within the current budget allocations;

1.8.4 the final date for entry to employment outcomes for LDD1, LDD2 and LDD3 is extended to 25 May 2015;

1.8.5 Delivery Partners be required to demonstrate that participants have been supported and sustained for a period of 17 weeks before any claim can be made;

1.8.6 claims be required to be made by the current claim submission date of 16 October 2015; and

1.8.7 the revisions would be managed within the current budget allocations.

1.9 All recommendations were agreed in principle.

1.10 The Assistant Director, Health and Communities subsequently considered similar variations to the YO2 project, and agreed the following changes;

1.10.1 the final date for Entry to Employment and Entry to Education be counted as achievement against project targets be extended to 22 June 2015;

1.10.2 Delivery Partners be required to demonstrate that participants have been supported and sustained for a period of 13 weeks before any claim can be made;

1.10.3 claims continue to be required to be made by the current claim submission date of 16 October 2015; and

1.10.4 the revision would be managed within the current budget allocations.

1.11 Following internal discussions at the ESF Project Review Meeting held on 12 February 2015 it was agreed that as these changes are contained within the current budget allocation and would not materially change the objectives of the project, this recommendation need not go to IPB.

2.1 The objectives of the GLA ESF Youth Programme remain as proposed in the Co-Financing Plan agreed in MD 948; to assist young people with barriers (EFS, LDD and YO) to progress into sustained Employment, Education and/or Training (EET).

2.2 The objective of the amendments to Grant Agreements is to maximise the outcomes that can be achieved and reported within the confines of the current grant eligibility and evidence guidelines, and within the current budget allocation, therefore increasing the potential number of participants supported by the programme, to increase the potential number of outcomes for participants, and to increase the volume of outcomes that the GLA can report to Department for Work and Pensions under the GLA’s Co-Financing Beneficiary Agreement, which is the agreement with The Secretary of State for the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) that allows the GLA to deliver co-funded activities as part of the England and Gibraltar European Social Fund (ESF) Convergence, Competitiveness and Employment Programme 2007-2013.

The proportional targets agreed with project Delivery Partners in the original agreements remain unaltered, and projects are required to report against equality characteristics for disability, gender and ethnicity. The grant agreement requires that Delivery Partners must comply with all applicable existing and future equal opportunities laws, regulations and guidance, and GLA guidance in relation to race, nationality, ethnicity, disability, gender, sexual orientation, age, religion or belief.

Key risks and issues

The delivery risks remain as they are in the current programme in that targets will continue to be challenging due to the nature of the target groups. The proposed amendments seek to enhance outcome achievement, and do not adversely affect current arrangements, therefore no additional risks or issues have been created.

Links to Mayoral strategies and priorities

The GLA ESF Youth Programme projects support the Mayors strategy regarding young people, and helping them to achieve their potential.

Impact assessments and consultations

i. The planned impact is no more than an enhanced opportunity for Delivery Partners to achieve the outcomes currently that the currently committed with GLA ESF Grant Agreement.
ii. Consultation to confirm acceptability of the proposals has taken place with the GLA budget holder, The Assistant Director of Health and Communities.

5.1 This proposal does not require any budget changes to individual projects but to vary funding agreements to allow time for the maximum number of sustained outcomes / achievements as possible. All budget variations will be managed within the current budget allocations as originally approved by MD948 for the ESF Youth Programme and subsequently reduced and reported via the Investment Programme Board. For information the revised gross budget allocation for each project is summarised below:

5.2 Any further changes to the ESF Youth Programme including budgetary implications will be subject to further approval via the Authority’s decision making process. All appropriate budget adjustments will be made.

5.3 The ESF Delivery Unit will be responsible for managing all activities relating to the ESF Youth Programme and ensuring all expenditure and project monitoring complies with the Authority’s Financial Regulations, Contracts & Funding Code and the ESF audit requirements as directed by DWP.

6.1 The foregoing sections of this report indicate that:

6.1.1 the decisions requested of the director fall within the statutory powers of the Authority to promote economic development and wealth creation and/or to do anything which is facilitative of or conducive or incidental to the promotion of the same in Greater London; and

6.1.2 in formulating the proposals in respect of which a decision is sought officers have complied with the Authority’s related statutory duties to:

(a) pay due regard to the principle that there should be equality of opportunity for all people;
(b) consider how the proposals will promote the improvement of health of persons, health inequalities between persons and to contribute towards the achievement of sustainable development in the United Kingdom; and
(c) consult with appropriate bodies.

6.2 Officers must ensure that grant agreements with 3SC, Prevista, Remploy, Leonard Cheshire Disability, Working Links and Nacro are varied and this is documented in accordance with the provisions of those grant agreements.