Decision details

This report will seek Cabinet’s views on the draft Youth Justice Plan following initial consideration at the Children and Adults Overview and Scrutiny Committee on 12 July 2010. The Plan will be referred to Council on 29 July 2010 for approval as part of the policy framework. 

Discussion:

The Youth Offending Team (YOT) Manager gave a presentation setting out the context of the plan and the team’s main priorities for the forthcoming year.
Two extra papers were circulated to Members setting out the latest performance indicators (as stated in paragraphs 1.2 and 1.3 of the report) together with information of the team’s achievements in 2009-2010 which had been judged as ‘good’ by the Youth Justice Board.

The committee asked whether contingency plans were being considered for any potential national financial proposals and changes to funding and/or legislation.

Officers responded that recent legislation had actually strengthened the YOT position. The new government seemed keen to move away from the current custodial model towards re-habilitation schemes and there might be the possibility of Local Authorities being given the budget to manage custody of offenders in the future. YOT funding came from a variety of sources and it was a realistic risk that the YOT would be expected to take a share of national cutbacks. The senior management of the team had already been re-organised and officers were now examining re-organisation possibilities for the next level of staff in the team.

Members asked that a glossary of terms was added to the document for ease of use.

Decision:

The committee agreed to recommend:

(a)       that a letter is sent by the Chairman on behalf of the committee recognising the good performance and hard work of the Youth Offending Team;

(b)       to Cabinet and full Council that the Youth Justice Plan 2010-2011 is adopted.