Decision details

To consider the report of the Leader detailing responses to the recommendations in the Future of Work in Southampton Inquiry Report.

(i)  To approve the response to the Future of Work in Southampton Scrutiny Inquiry recommendations as set out in the Action Plan attached as Appendix 1.

(ii)  To delegate authority to the Director of Growth, after consultation with the Leader of the Council, to include funding requirements as part of the annual budget setting process as highlighted in Section 4 of this report and detailed in the Future of Work in Southampton Action Plan.

(iii)  To delegate authority to the Director of Growth, after consultation with the Leader of the Council, to establish a citywide steering group to oversee the implementations of the recommendations set out in the Future of Work in Southampton Action Plan. The Steering group will report back to the Council in September 2021.

The Overview and Scrutiny Rules in part 4 of the Council’s Constitution requires the Executive to consider all inquiry reports that have been endorsed by the Overview and Scrutiny Management Committee (OSMC), and to submit a formal response to the recommendations.

DO NOTHING – Whilst the City’s economic performance continues to improve, underlying issues remain in relation to labour market inactivity, productivity of the working age population, graduate retention, business survival rates, wage rates of the local population and proportion of residents with high skills. Thus it is incumbent to adopt recommendations set out in the Scrutiny report with the due injection of resources and strategic partnership working to ensure Southampton remains at the forefront in adopting innovative solutions for its future growth, prosperity and wellbeing of its citizens.