Issue - meetings

This report seeks the approval of the Medway Youth Justice Strategic Plan 2017-2020.

Discussion:

This report provided details of the Medway Youth Justice Partnership Strategic Plan 2017-2020, whichset out how youth justice would be delivered locally within available resources.

The Plan had been considered by the Children and Young People Overview and Scrutiny Committee on 1 August 2017 and Cabinet on 5 September 2017 in accordance with the Policy Framework rules, details of which were set out in sections 7 and 8 of the report respectively.

A Diversity Impact Assessment had been carried out on the proposals, as set out in Appendix B to the report.

The Portfolio Holder for Children’s Services (Lead Member), Councillor Mackness, supported by the Portfolio Holder for Educational Attainment and Improvement, Councillor Potter, proposed the recommendation in the report.

Decision:

The Council approved the Medway Youth Justice Partnership Strategic Plan 2017-2020, as set out in Appendix A to the report.

Background:

This report provided details of the Medway Youth Justice Partnership Strategic Plan 2017-2020, which was required under the provisions of the Crime and Disorder Act 1998. The Plan covered a three year period (2017-2020) and had been co-produced with Youth Justice Partnership Board (YJPB) members, influenced by national research and evidence of effective practice and had taken examples across National Partnerships. The Plan set out how high quality, high performing youth justice services over the next 3 years would continue to be delivered.

The report provided details of proposed changes, compared to the previous Plan, including the development of a Youth Justice Partnership Board (YJPB) which would be focused less on oversight of a single service and more on the activities of all partners that would impact upon young people’s involvement with offending. The report also gave details of the Plan’s priorities, as highlighted in paragraph 2.6 of the report:

·                    Prevent Youth Crime (Appropriate use Out of Court Disposals)

·                    Reduce Re-offending (Quality of Assessments/ Plans delivered through evidenced based practice)

·                    Safeguard young people from harm (CSE, Prevent, Safeguarding, Gangs)

·                    Protect the public from harm (ROSH, Gangs, ISS, use of Custody, Resettlement)

The report had been considered by the Children and Young People Overview and Scrutiny Committee, and its comments were set out in paragraph 7 of the report.

A Diversity Impact Assessment had been undertaken on the proposals, as set out in Appendix B to the report.

Reasons:

To ensure that Medway Council and other agencies have effective strategies for addressing youth offending behaviour and delivers outcomes that have positive benefits for our communities.