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RESOLVED:
 

That Cabinet agrees the approach of
coordinating new national government policy and funding into a
single Surrey Skills Strategic Framework, building from up-to-date
local evidence.  
That in relation to the ‘Get
Surrey Working Plan’, Cabinet agrees evidence analysis and
principles for submission to DWP in October 2025.
That in relation to the Adult Skills
Fund:

Cabinet notes previous approval
secured from Cabinet on 18/03/2025 to receive the devolved Fund
(estimated at £12m per annum) and to ‘delegate
authority to the Chief Executive, in consultation with the Leader
of the Council, to consent to the making of the necessary
Regulations to devolve the Adult Skills Fund thereby implementing
and giving effect to these aspects which formed part of the County
Deal agreed with government in March 2024’.
Cabinet agrees the direction of
travel for the devolved commissioning framework.
Cabinet agrees to delegate
decision-making power to the Cabinet Member for Transport,
Infrastructure and Growth for the commissioning arrangements to
secure and implement the devolution of the Adult Skills Fund,
including the details of the final commissioning approach, the
agreement of priority provision, details for funding rates and
other key components of the future commissioning plan.

That Cabinet notes the wider
partnership governance that underpins this work including
connections into health and upcoming components such as the Local
Skills Improvement Plan for Surrey, which will be aligned to
national deadlines.   

 
Reason for
Decisions:
 
The proposed establishment of a strategic
framework for Workforce, Employment and Skills recognises the need
for a locally defined, strategic approach to make sure that Surrey
residents from target groups are able to access a streamlined local
employment support offer. The Framework addresses the cross-cutting
interests of health and economic outcomes, and it provides a
structure under which current and future related opportunities can
be integrated. There is also a government requirement for approvals
of a cross-system plan for ‘Get Surrey Working’ and the
commissioning of Surrey’s Adult Skills Fund.
 
(The decisions on
this item can be called-in by the Communities, Environment and
Highways Select Committee)