Agenda item - Youth Services Review

Report of the Executive Director of Children’s Services (copy attached)

42.1    RESOLVED: That the Committee agreed:

(i)            That the Committee noted the Youth Work Review Report of the Youth Work Review Group and principles of service design set out therein.

(ii)          That in light of the anticipated budget position described at paragraph 4.2 of the report, and upon the basis of the recommendations in the attached Youth Work Review Report, the Committee authorises the Director of Children’s Services  to consult with staff, young people and partners on proposals for:

(iii)         An alternative delivery model, for example a Youth Trust or Foundation, or reconfiguration and re-commissioning of the Youth Collective and other CVS organisations for the provision of services to vulnerable and disadvantaged children, young people and their families.

(iv)         The future use of the council’s youth centre buildings.

(v)          Future arrangements for the delivery and/or external commissioning of the flexible continuum’ of youth work provision recommended by the Youth Work Review Group including:

·         community based open access youth work;

·         targeted youth work including provision as part of the Stronger Families Stronger Communities programme;

·         central support and strategic planning.

42.1    The Committee considered the report of the Executive Director of Children’s Services which reported on the Review of the Youth Work Services (provided and commissioned by the Council), which made recommendations to support financial and service plans for 2016/17. The report was presented by the Assistant Director Stronger Families Youth and Communities and the Service Manager Youth & Communities, together with James Holmes and Wednesday Croft, who were members of the Youth Review Group (Youth Council).

42.2    Councillor Phillips was concerned at the potential 25% cut to a service which provided great support to many people. Councillor Phillips asked how many staff could lose their jobs. The Assistant Director Stronger Families Youth and Communities said that there would be a likely reduction of around 25% to the budget most of which would lead to cuts in staffing levels, but said he didn’t have the exact figure. Councillor Philips asked what consultation would be undertaken, and was advised that formal consultations would be held with staff in line with Council procedures and consultation would be held with the public. Councillor Phillips asked if the Committee could see the wording of the consultation before it was undertaken. The Assistant Director Stronger Families Youth and Communities said there was no reason why they couldn’t, but it could be difficult to that in the available time before the consultation would need to begin. Councillor Phillips noted that four young people had sat on the Youth Review Group and wanted assurance that their views had been considered. James Holmes and Wednesday Croft said that they had been given the opportunity to be fully involved and had felt that their view and opinions had been considered. Councillor Phillips noted that the Council had an Internal Conferences Budget ‘subvention budget’ of £1.2m and asked if that could not be used to address the budget cut. The Executive Director of Children’s Services said that use of other council budgets would be a matter for other committees.

42.3    Councillor Daniel thanked officers for the report and thought that having a tiered service made sense.

42.4    Ms Millanzi said she accepted that cuts had to be made, but wanted officers to see what options would be available to minimize any impact on a great service.

42.5    Councillor Brown agreed there was a need to explore alternative delivery models, but hoped that targeted advice for areas such as drugs, youth pregnancy etc. would not be lost. Councillor Brown suggested that a directory showing what support was available for young people would be useful. TheAssistant Director Stronger Families Youth and Communities agreed that a directory would be very useful, and would look into doing that.

42.6    Councillor Brown said that the Conservative Group wanted to ensure that the Youth Collective had a full voice and were therefore proposing the following amendment to Recommendation 2.2.1.

2.1       That the Committee notes the attached Youth Work Review Report of the Youth Work Review Group and principles of service design set out therein.

2.2       That in light of the anticipated budget position described at paragraph 4.2 of this report, and upon the basis of the recommendations in the attached Youth Work Review Report, the Committee authorises the DCS to consult with staff, young people and partners on proposals for:

2.2.1. An alternative delivery model, for example a Youth Trust or   Foundation, or reconfiguration and re-commissioning of the Youth Collective and other CVS organisations for the provision of services to vulnerable and disadvantaged children, young people and their families.

2.2.2.   The future use of the council’s youth centre buildings.

2.2.3   Future arrangements for the delivery and/or external commissioning of the flexible continuum’ of youth work provision recommended by the Youth Work Review Group including:

·         community based open access youth work;

·         targeted youth work including provision as part of the Stronger Families Stronger Communities programme;

·         central support and strategic planning.

The Amendment was seconded by Councillor Taylor, who said that the city was fortunate to have such strong voluntary services, and Children’s Services should continue to support and encourage those groups.

42.7    Councillor Daniel said the Labour Group would not support an amendment from a Recommendation and would therefore abstain from voting to agree the proposed amendment.

42.8    Ms Mortensen referred to section 5.2, ‘Young People–Disability’ in Appendix 1 which stated that “The Disabled Young People’s Council say inclusive provision is still lacking locally and nationally’, and “Young people with SEN are more likely to report that they have experienced bullying as well as being more likely to bully others” and asked if firstly there were plans to increase provision, and secondly whether the issue of bullying was a problem within the city. The Service Manager Youth & Communities said that it may not be possible for inclusion provision to be increased, but it was hoped that the current level could be maintained and that the issue of bullying was being looked into.

42.9    Mr Jones agreed with Ms Mortensen that those issues were a concern, and asked that if the inclusion provision were not increased whether the service could be reviewed to find alternative ways of providing the support.   The Assistant Director Stronger Families Youth and Communities said that there would a reduction in funding and therefore the service would change, and officers would look at different models and interventions.

42.10 Councillor Wealls asked for reassurance that any consultation would also include minority groups. The Assistant Director Stronger Families Youth and Communities said that all groups would be included in the consultation.

42.11 The Councillors on the Committee voted on the proposed amendment to the Recommendations. It was agreed to accept the amendment with 3 votes in favour, 2 against and 5 abstentions.

42.12  RESOLVED: That the Committee agreed:

(i)            That the Committee noted the Youth Work Review Report of the Youth Work Review Group and principles of service design set out therein.

(ii)          That in light of the anticipated budget position described at paragraph 4.2 of the report, and upon the basis of the recommendations in the attached Youth Work Review Report, the Committee authorises the Director of Children’s Services  to consult with staff, young people and partners on proposals for:

(iii)         An alternative delivery model, for example a Youth Trust or Foundation, or reconfiguration and re-commissioning of the Youth Collective and other CVS organisations for the provision of services to vulnerable and disadvantaged children, young people and their families.

(iv)         The future use of the council’s youth centre buildings.

(v)          Future arrangements for the delivery and/or external commissioning of the flexible continuum’ of youth work provision recommended by the Youth Work Review Group including:

·         community based open access youth work;

·         targeted youth work including provision as part of the Stronger Families Stronger Communities programme;

·         central support and strategic planning.