This report updates the Committee on the delivery of Skills, Employment and Training programmes organised by REDA in line with the planning policies which promote Employment and Skills Plans, designed to support local growth for both residents and businesses.

The Committee considered a report providing an update on the delivery of Skills, Employment and Training programmes organised by REDA (the trading name of Reading UK CIC) in line with the planning policies which promote Employment and Skills Plans, designed to support local growth for both residents and businesses.  The report stated that delivery had been aligned with other important programmes being implemented across the Borough – notably UK SPF and Social Inclusion and Placed Based Pilot programmes.  The next 18 months would see further engagement with, and contributions from, both developers and the end users of completed developments which would be used to create employment and skills opportunities to assist local growth and to reach all parts of Reading’s community.  The programme would be delivered using S106 contributions and would therefore be cost neutral to the Council.  The report had appended the Programme for 2024-26, which had been recorded in an Officer Decision Notice and case studies of local Reading participants in the scheme.

Resolved –

(1)      That the report be noted and the delivery of employment and skills outcomes by REDA (Reading’s Economy and Destination Agency) as enabled by Section 106 Employment and Skills Plans, be welcomed;

(2)      That the Officer Decision Notice outlining the next phase of delivery through the Council’s continuing relationship with REDA, as its preferred delivery partner, with the allocation of £245,000 Section 106 funding be noted.