Agenda item - Youth & Employability Trust Proposals

Report of the Executive Director, Families, Children & Learning (copy to follow)

Contact Officer: Chris Parfitt                       Tel: 01273 294252

Ward(s) Affected: All

39.1    RESOLVED: That the Committee agreed:

That the Children, Young People & Skills Committee recommend that the Policy, Resources and Growth Committee approve the following recommendations:

(1)  That delegated authority be granted to the Executive Director of Families, Children & Learning: to enter into a competitive procurement process to secure the provision of youth services on a neighbourhood open access based model and youth work supporting vulnerable young people for a period of three years commencing on 1 April 2017 in order to secure the continuity of service provision in the shorter term

(2) That delegated authority be granted to the Executive Director of Families, Children & Learning to award and let the contracts for this procurement for a period of three years which contracts shall contain a provision providing for the transfer of those contracts to the Youth Employability Trust in the event that the Trust is established in due course.

39.1    Following a declaration of interest in this item, Councillor Bewick left the room during consideration of the report and Councillor Chapman took the role of Chair.

39.2    The Committee considered the report of the Executive Director Families, Children & Learning, regarding the Youth and Employability Trust proposals. The report was introduced by Head of Skills and Employment (Families, Children and Learning), and the Services Manager Youth and Communities.

39.3    Councillor Daniel said that discussions had been held with the opposition parties, and it was felt that more information should be provided on the business plan before the Committee could agree the recommendations in the report. It was suggested that recommendations 2.1.1, 2.1.2 and 2.1.3 be deferred, and only recommendations 2.4 and 2.5 be recommended to the Policy, Resources and Growth Committee.

39.4    Councillor Brown agreed with the comments of Councillor Daniel, and said the Conservative Group supported the idea of a trust but felt that there was insufficient information in the proposals put forward, and that the business case should be more detailed before recommendations 2.1 – 2.3 could be agreed.

39.5    Councillor Greenbaum noted that the intention was to only have one trustee from the Local Authority, and suggested that could lead to a lack of democratic accountability, and asked that a councillor from all parties be members of the trust. The Executive Director Families, Children & Learning said that the membership of the trust had not yet been decided and could be discussed at a later date.

39.6    The lawyer confirmed that the existing Youth Services Contract ended in July 2017, and it was therefore essential that the procurement process be undertaken in order to secure the continuity of service provision. 

39.7    Councillor Daniel proposed an amendment to recommendation 2.1.5, the proposal was seconded by Councillor Brown:

            Amended recommendation 2.1.5:

            That delegated authority be granted to the Executive Director of Families, Children & Learning to award and let the contracts for this procurement for a period of three years which contracts shall contain a provisionproviding for the transfer of those contracts to the Youth Employability Trust in the event that the Trust is established in due course.

39.8    The Committee voted on and agreed the amendment to recommendation 2.1.5. The Committee voted on the recommendations and agreed to defer 2.1.1, 2.1.2 and 2.1.3, and agreed to accept 2.1.4 and the amended 2.1.5.

39.9    RESOLVED: That the Committee agreed:

That the Children, Young People & Skills Committee recommend that the Policy, Resources and Growth Committee approve the following recommendations:

(1)  That delegated authority be granted to the Executive Director of Families, Children & Learning: to enter into a competitive procurement process to secure the provision of youth services on a neighbourhood open access based model and youth work supporting vulnerable young people for a period of three years commencing on 1 April 2017 in order to secure the continuity of service provision in the shorter term

(2) That delegated authority be granted to the Executive Director of Families, Children & Learning to award and let the contracts for this procurement for a period of three years which contracts shall contain a provision providing for the transfer of those contracts to the Youth and Employability Trust in the event that the Trust is established in due course.