A report by the Interim Director of Corporate Services advised Members of three European Funding bidding opportunities available to the Council and recommended that bids were made for this funding because of the beneficial effects securing such funding would have on tackling worklessness, supporting apprenticeships and supporting businesses in key employment areas.

The Cabinet was advised that the ESF funding bids had to be submitted by 17 November 2010 because of the requirements of Government Office. If funding applications were not submitted by this date then the Council would not be able to access this funding for the benefit of Wirral residents.

The Cabinet was also advised that any bids for funding that were approved to the Council would be reported back in detail to the Cabinet before the funding was accepted.

RESOLVED: That

(1)  to maximise the funding resources available to the Council for the development of activity to tackle worklessness and to support apprenticeships, funding application(s) as set out in the report be submitted by the Interim Director of Corporate Services by the required date of 17 November 2010;

(2)  a further report on the outcome of the ESF bid(s)be presented to the Cabinet in due course for approval prior to acceptance of funding; and

(3)  Officers be requested to develop an ERDF funding bid for measure 4.2 (supporting linkages to key employment areas) and report back to the Cabinet on it in due course.