APPENDIX 3
Memorandum from Greenwich Council
Following our telephone conversation last week
I am pleased to comment further on the current position of the
Council with regard to two issues:
— The Council's involvement in legacy;
With regard to legacy the Council continues
to be concerned that it feels largely excluded from discussions
about legacy. As Council Officers we have been consulted on the
factual content of a draft document to be used in a competition
but we have been involved in no discussion at all about the process.
Nor has the Council been involved in discussions about the range
of types of activity which might be favoured or considered or
encouraged. Our views on the nature of future legacy that the
Council would wish to see have been sought by the Select Committee
but not by English Partnerships. The Council has no real feel
for the process that is now in hand nor as to what involvement,
if any, the Council will have as part of this process. Ultimately
of course we are the planning authority and as planning permission
for the Exhibition is for a maximum of two years then whatever
is decided it will need to come back to the Council for consideration.
In our view it would be much better for the Council to be part
of an evolving process of consideration of legacy uses.
On the subject of the Council's Local Labour
Scheme we believe that Greenwich Local Labour and Business (GLLaB)
has so far proved to be successful. It is still fairly early days
and the next 12 months will be critical. I attach an information
sheet which sets out information about the number of individuals
and businesses engaged through GLLaB. In its current form GLLaB
was initiated in response to the Millennium Exhibition and associated
activity. So far it has placed 805 local residents into jobs.
Over £6 million of contracts have been won by local businesses.
About one quarter of construction jobs at the Dome have so far
been held by people in Thames Gateway and two thirds of these
have been from Greenwich. Both total unemployment and male unemployment
have more or less halved since reaching a peak in 1993. This is
encouraging although there is still some way to go. We are also
very encouraged about the way in which GLLaB has been able to
play a co-ordinating role among local labour schemes in the wider
area of East London. We believe we are well placed to face the
critical 12 month period ahead.
GLLaB'S ACHIEVEMENTS—END OF JANUARY 1999
| No of local residents trained | 1,287 |
| No of local residents placed into jobs | 805 |
| No of local residents registered with GLLaB | 8,500 |
| No of businesses receiving business advice | 169 |
| No of businesses winning contracts on the major developments | 85 |
| Total value of contracts won by local businesses | Over £6 million |
TREND IN UNEMPLOYMENT IN GREENWICH OVER PAST EIGHT YEARS
| Year | Total No of people unemployed | % | Male Unemployment | % male |
| 1991 | 13,204 | 12.2 | 10,014 | 16.2 |
| 1992 | 15,312 | 14.2 | 11,650 | 18.8 |
| 1993 | 15,842 | 16.1 | 11,860 | 21.3 |
| 1994 | 13,932 | 14.2 | 10,399 | 18.7 |
| 1995 | 12,971 | 13.2 | 9,612 | 17.3 |
| 1996 | 11,982 | 12.2 | 8,931 | 16.1 |
| 1997 | 9,354 | 9.5 | 6,941 | 12.5 |
| 1998 | 8,765 | 8.9 | 6,393 | 11.5 |
MAIN POINTS
GLLaB provides training which equips people with the skills
to get the jobs which will be coming into the area, ie training
in customer care, first aid, basic foreign languages, IT, communication
skills. These skills increase people's employability, providing
them with the skills which employers want. This model is being
delivered in a big way for jobs on the Dome—Pre-Employment
Training—PET.
GLLaB is successful because of the model of close working
with employers and developers prior to their location into the
borough. This enables:
— A close working relationship from the outset;
— Prior knowledge of the job vacancies and contract
opportunities;
— Ability to plan training to meet future employers'
needs;
— Marketing of future job opportunities to get local
residents interested.
GLLab is working closely with local labour initiatives in
the Thames Gateway area to develop a cross-borough partnership
and systems which enables job vacancies and business opportunities
to be referred out and co-ordinated easily. This will:
— Ensure maximum numbers of local people and businesses
across the Thames Gateway benefit; and
— Provides a responsive service to employers and
businesses which encourages "repeat business" and more
opportunities.
February 1999
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