To provide an update of the work of Inspire and the move towards a commercial based organisation.

Councillor Halden, the Portfolio Holder for Education and Health, presented the report and in doing so explained the purpose was to update Members on the most appropriate delivery for Inspire Youth Offer. It was further explained that it had been decided to bring the scheme in house under the Council where it could be moved forward.

He continued by stating he did not want young people to leave school and ‘fall’ into a job, when they could learn a skill and secure a job they wanted to do.

Councillor Halden commented that in addition the council had secured a £2.4million grant in European funding and taken on the management of the Council’s Grangewaters Outdoor Education Centre recovering a further £330,000 in the current year to leave the site cost neutral.

RESOLVED that Cabinet:

1.            Approve the principle that the service, including the operation of Grangewaters outdoor education centre, remain an in-house service and is supported in incubating its commercial principles.

2.         Approve more autonomy for Inspire to meet its objective to form a cost neutral and self-sustaining service, while meeting our goals and principles to improve outcomes for young people.

Reason for Decision - as stated in the report

This decision is subject to call-in