Agenda item

Report by Carolyn Godfrey, Corporate Director and Terence Herbert, Associate Director - Children's Social Care, Integrated Youth and Preventative Services, 0-25 SEN/Disability Service

This meeting was well attended by over 70 young people, youth workers and back bench Councillors.  For the benefit of the public in attendance, the Leader introduced the Cabinet members and officers. The Leader explained that this was a specially arranged meeting to ensure there was sufficient time to consider the submitted report in detail and to consider all views expressed at the meeting.

Cllr Laura Mayes, Cabinet member for Children’s Services presented a report which sought Cabinet approval for the implementation of a new community-led operating model for meeting the council’s statutory duty to secure for young people aged 13-19 (so far as reasonably practicable) access to sufficient positive leisure-time activities which are for the improvement of their

wellbeing, and sufficient facilities for such activities. Cllr Mayes gave a presentation to explain the main features of what was being proposed and moved the proposals and this was duly seconded.

A report had been previously considered by Cabinet in January 2014 when it was agreed to consult on four options. The consultation measures had included a Sparksite survey, direct texts to 20,000 young people, website coverage, various focus groups and participatory budget events, presentations at Area Boards and generally through the media. There had been an extremely good response to the consultation with 1,770 young people having completed a survey; 500 young people took part in focus groups, 6 groups presented ideas at Area Boards, 5 petitions were received (total c3,500 signatures); 38 letters and 26 responses from voluntary groups; 12 responses from Town and Parish Councils and a response from the Wiltshire Police and Crime Commissioner. The outcomes of the consultation were detailed in the report presented to Cabinet.

The report proposed the development of a community-led approach which would empower communities via area boards, with funding from the Council, to develop and make available positive leisure-time activities within their local area. If agreed by Cabinet, this new model would be in place in October 2014 and fully embedded by April 2015.

Under this proposal, young people and the members of the community would design a tailored and varied menu of youth activities in each area. Trained Community Youth Officers (CYO) would help co-ordinate, design, develop and quality assure a unique youth offer tailored to their needs. The aim would be to have a named CYO for each Area Board area and Area Boards would receive funding to support this. The report also detailed three other options which had been considered.

Cllr Mayes explained that young people had during their consultation feedback, made clear what they wanted. She explained that the community led model would ensure that young people would continue to have a trained and trusted adult; more young people would have access to a wider variety of activities; the youth offer would reflect community needs, the voluntary and community sector would have better opportunities  to develop provision for young people, young people and community partners would have greater influence over design of local youth provision and safeguarding would be enhanced through the Targeted Youth Workers. The aim was to have more young people, having more influence and joining in with more activities in their communities.

The Leader introduced Cllr Jon Hubbard, Chairman of the Children’s Select Committee who presented the report of the Positive Leisure Time Activities

for Young People Task Group as agreed by the Children’s Select Committee.

Cllr Hubbard raised a number of questions and concerns which he considered had not been addressed in the report presented. He asked how many staff would be employed under the new scheme; would they be dedicated to a particular area or shared; how would the service be managed; who would line manage the CYOs and who would set their objectives and how many open access centres were proposed.

Cllr Mayes responded to the points raised.

The Leader invited those present to express their views. Several of the young people present addressed Cabinet on the proposals, highlighting their areas of particular concern. The Leader, Cllr Mayes and officers responded to the questions raised.

Cllr Mayes emphasised that given the financial constraints mainly due to continued reductions from central Government, the Council had no option but to review how the youth service was delivered. She compared Wiltshire to other authorities where they had simply cut their youth service. This Council was endeavouring to shape the way the service was provided to ensure it was tailored to meet the needs of each community. Area Boards would play a huge part in determining the level of service required for its area and fund it accordingly.

Cllr Seed commented that the current service was not reaching the majority of young people and the proposals presented would provide the opportunity to put youth services on a much firmer footing.

The report advised that all Councillors should consider the equality issues and impacts of the proposal in the decision making process and satisfy themselves that the Council’s Public Sector Equality Duties were being met as shown in Appendix 2 of the report presented.  These issues were also raised and discussed within the public discussion. In addition, the risks associated with the proposals as detailed in the risk register as shown at Appendix 4 of the report should also be considered.

The Leader thanked all those present for their attendance, the excellent contributions made at the meeting and for their feedback during the consultation exercise.

The Leader explained the proposals as moved by Cllr Mayes and seconded by a member of Cabinet to ensure all those present were clear on what was being proposed. Following a lengthy debate, it was

Resolved:

(a)          That Cabinet agrees to implement a new community-led operating model for meeting the council’s statutory duty to secure positive activities for young people aged 13-19[1].

(b)          That in so doing, Cabinet approves the following:

i)             Adopt the key principles for a new operating model as set out in this report;

ii)            Authorise implementation of the community-led model for youth activities to increase the opportunities for young people’s involvement and engagement;

iii)           Approve that the community-led operating model for youth activities maximises the amount of funding available to community area boards and local coordination;

iv)          Delegate authority to Councillor Laura Mayes, Cabinet Member for Children’s Services and senior officers to develop and implement the new operating model, taking account of i)-iii) above and the recommendations of the scrutiny task group.

Reason for Decision

The council has been considering how positive leisure-time activities for young people can be maintained while improving value for money – with the aim to safeguard a youth offer for the future that is sustainable, protects the most vulnerable, enables the council to meet its statutory duties, and responds to the modern lives of young people, increasing their participation and involvement in youth activities.

The proposed new community-led operating model represents the most appropriate way to supporting the council’s overall vision, taking into account the outcomes of an extensive public consultation, and ensures that young people will continue to be able to access a range of opportunities, enabled by trained Community Youth Officers.  The actions identified and contained within the Equalities Impact assessment will ensure that the Council both in the decision and in the implementation phase meets its public sector equality duties to eliminate discrimination, promote equality of opportunity and foster good relations for protected characteristics (age, sex, disability and religion).