Agenda item

This report advises the Committee of a notice of call-in received from six Members of the Council of the Cabinet’s decision (147 and 148/2016) to retain the youth service and the Youth offending Team within Children’s Services and to extend the contract with Medway Youth Trust to August 2019 on the basis set out in the Cabinet report (attached at Appendix A).

           The Committee must consider the Cabinet decisions and decide either to take no further action, to refer the decisions back to Cabinet for reconsideration or to refer the matter to full Council.

Discussion:

Members considered a report regarding a call-in received from six Members of the Council of Cabinet’s decisions (147/2016 – 148/2016 – 20 December 2016) in relation to the future Integrated Youth Support Service delivery. The Committee was requested to consider the Cabinet decisions and decide either to take no further action, refer the decisions back to Cabinet or to refer the decisions to Council for reconsideration.

Councillor Price, the Lead Member for the call-in, explained the reasons for the call-in as outlined in paragraph 2.2 of the report. In particular, he raised concerns regarding a lack of clarity in relation to the future model of the youth service and how it would operate with a reduced budget.  He also raised concern about the ongoing use and support of volunteers.

Officers confirmed that the budget envelope was the same as it had been when the local authority were considering outsourcing the youth service earlier in 2016, therefore this has not changed.  It was also explained that officers had been working to develop a model that recognised the reduced budget while minimising the impact to the service and it was considered that this was best achieved by integrating the Youth Service with the broader children’s services, for example, Early Help.  There had been no firm decision on the structure as yet but there was an intention to retain a service at Youth Centres and then to direct targeted services to safeguarding priorities to complement Early Help support.  Officers also confirmed that supporting and using volunteers was an area that would be developed, particularly in relation to youth services.

Members then raised a number of comments and questions which included:

·           Diversity Impact Assessment(DIA) – a Member raised concern regarding some of the potential adverse impact highlighted within the DIA (at page 54 of the agenda).  Officers confirmed that with a reduced budget this was a risk but that the integration of the service with Early Help would minimise the risk of any impact.

·           Timeline of finalising the new model – officers confirmed that once there was a confirmed decision in relation to the future Integrated Youth Support Service delivery they would continue their work in developing the model with a view to finalising this as soon as possible.

·           Lack of clarity of future model – A Member reiterated their concerns about the lack of clarity around the proposed model and officers undertook to provide an update report at the appropriate time to keep Members informed.

·           Medway Youth Parliament (MYP) engagement – The MYP representative explained that MYP had experienced very positive dialogue with the Portfolio Holder for Children’s Services (Lead Member), the Leader and the Chief Executive about the proposals but added that some members of MYP were still very disappointed in the change from outsourcing to keeping the service in house because of the amount of time MYP had given to working with officers on the outsourcing of the Youth Service.  There was also discontent within MYP about the amount of time the planning of the future service delivery had taken with there still being uncertainty about the final model.  He confirmed that a further meeting with the Portfolio Holder for Children’s Services (Lead Member), the Director of Children and Adult Services and senior officers had been arranged for March 2017.

·           Benefits of integrating the service – in response to a question officers confirmed that by integrating the Youth Service with other children’s services, such as Early Help, it was believed this would provide the minimum impact to service delivery, given the reduced budget as it allows a flexible package to be adopted and would support improved outcomes for young people accessing the service.

The Committee considered a proposal that the matter be referred to full Council to enable more detail to be provided and considered by all Members of the Council, including more detail about why there was a change from the original intention to outsource the service. On being put to the vote, the proposal was lost.

Decision:

The Committee accepted the Cabinet decisions 147 – 148/2016, as set out in paragraph 2.1 of the report, and agreed to take no further action.