Agenda item

The Cabinet considered the future provision of positive activities for young people.  The details were set out in the report, its Appendices and supporting information.

In the ensuing discussion, the following main points were made:

(a)    The Cabinet Member with Responsibility for Localism and Communities introduced the report and commented that the current approach to Positive Activities for young people had been reviewed by officers as well as by the Children and Young People's Overview and Scrutiny Panel. The review identified that there was a risk that a number of priority localities could be left with little or no significant accessible Positive Activities provision reaching those needing it most if the Council was to remove all of the funding from 2016/17. It was therefore recommended that investment should not cease but continue from April 2016 albeit with a reduced sum of the delivery fund from £600k to £400k by 2018/19. Infrastructure support would continue to be allocated £100k annually

(b)    The report emphasised the Council's commitment to continued and targeted youth provision. The proposals fitted in with the Council's corporate priorities in supporting the most vulnerable youth in society in the county, particularly in hard-to-reach areas. It also addressed the Council's statutory duty under the Crime and Disorder Act in relation to Community Safety and was supported by the Police and Health. The proposals provided stability for local communities and providers over a 3 year period. It was a substantial re-investment into service provision supported by a network of volunteers. It re-inforced the approach of the Council of funding activities not buildings

(c)    There had been wide engagement with users and providers. It was reassuring to see that 10% of the respondents to the consultation exercise were from the most vulnerable/disabled groups. There was also an improved offer from Connect Centres and perhaps there could be a merger of their activities with the Youth Service activities

(d)     A Member from Outside the Cabinet welcomed the very positive support for youth provision in the county. However the budget reduction provided a challenge to the service and only experience would tell if the Council could meet its statutory duties and achieve the desired outcomes. This work was vital especially for vulnerable individuals who used the facilities as a place of last resort away from family issues. It was important that input was received from professional youth workers as well as volunteers. However core funding remained an issue which needed addressing and who would be providing support to professional youth workers?   

(e)     A Member from outside the Cabinet stated that the role of the local member appeared to be reduced to responding to problems experienced by constituents in their local division

(f)     The Leader of the Council emphasised that local councillors would have an advocacy and monitoring role. The previous system had been complex and over-beaurocratic and the proposed approach would be simpler and more effective. He hoped that the full–ranging consultation exercise and discussions meant that all parties felt that their voice had been heard and taken on board in line with the Council's duties under the Education Act. In particular he thanked the Youth Parliament for its contribution. The Council was committed to fulfilling its statutory duty in relation to the Positive Activities for Qualifying Young People. Regard had been taken of the Scrutiny comments before Cabinet that Positive Activities helped address levels of anti-social behaviour and the Police view that the ability to signpost Young People to these diversionary activities was important. The request from Scrutiny to reconsider plans to remove all County Council funding had been taken on board. The recommendations took into account the general duties under section 17 of the Crime and Disorder Act 1998 to exercise the Council's functions with regard to the likely effect on crime and disorder and to do all that could reasonably be done to prevent it. Importantly, commissioning of services at a district level would help ensure that local offers of access to Positive Activities would match the particular local needs of the area.

RESOLVED:  that

(a)        the findings of the review of County Council funded Positive Activities for young people provision as set out in paragraphs 1-21 of the report be noted;

(b)       the recommendation for the future funding of positive activities as set out in paragraphs 25-26 of the report be approved;

(c)        the focus of the infrastructure support funding as set out in paragraphs 28-31 of the report be approved;

(d)       the needs based formula funding and district allocation of positive activities as set out in paragraph 27 of the report be approved;

(e)        the proposed commissioning priorities and processes as set out in paragraphs 32-35 of the report be approved; and

(f)        the implementation of the recommendations outlined in the report be delegated to the Director of Children's Services in consultation with the Cabinet Member with Responsibility for Children and Families.