Issue - meetings

The Crime and Disorder Act 1998, requires Local Authorities to have a Youth Justice Plan, which is updated annually to set out how youth justice will be delivered locally within available resources.

This plan is a completely new plan in line with guidance distributed to local authorities in March 2024.

Background:

The report set out that Crime and Disorder Act 1998, required Local Authorities to have a Youth Justice Plan, which was updated annually to set out how youth justice would be delivered locally within available resources.

The Plan was a completely new plan in line with guidance distributed to local authorities in March 2024. The format of the Plan followed guidance and headings provided by the National Youth Justice Board for England and Wales in the guidance mentioned, detailing best practice in completion of the Youth Justice Plans.

The report had previously been considered by the Children and Young People Overview and Scrutiny Committee on 7 August 2025 and by the Cabinet on 23 September 2025, the draft minutes and decisions of which were set out at sections 5 and 6 of the report.

The Portfolio Holder for Children’s Services, Councillor Price, supported by the Deputy Leader of the Council, Councillor Murray, proposed the recommendations set out in the report.

Decisions:

a)    The Council noted the comments of the Children and Young People Overview and Scrutiny Committee and the decisions of the Cabinet, as set out at sections 5 and 6 of the report.

b)    The Council approved the Medway Youth Justice Plan 2025 – 2026.

Background:

The report provided details of a new Youth Justice Plan, attached at Appendix 1 to the report, which was a completely new plan in line with guidance distributed to local authorities in March 2024. The format of the plan followed guidance and headings provided by the National Youth Justice Board for England and Wales.

The report explained that the Youth Justice Plan was a strategic plan that formed part of the Policy Framework for Medway Council (Chapter 2, Article 4.1 of the Constitution). Approval of the Plan was therefore a matter for Full Council prior to formal submission to the Ministry of Justice.

The report had previously been considered by the Children and Young People Overview and Scrutiny Committee on 7 August 2025 and the Cabinet thanked the Committee for its comments which were set out in section 6 of the report.

Reasons:

The Crime and Disorder Act 1998, requires Local Authorities to have a Youth

Justice Plan, which is updated annually to set out how youth justice will be

delivered locally within available resources.