Agenda item

To receive an update on the development of Haringey Youth Zone.

Councillor Eugene Aysisi, the Cabinet Member for Communities, reported on proposals to develop a Haringey Youth Zone.  A limited budget of £250,000 was currently available for youth services in the borough and this was an opportunity to bring in additional funding to further develop universal youth provision.  OnSide, the Council’s proposed partner in this development, was a charity that worked across the country. The partnership would bring in £3 million of capital funding as well as an annual £750,000 in revenue funding for three years.  There was no final agreement as yet on the site for a new facility.  OnSide had committed to keep the Bruce Grove Youth Centre open as a delivery site   A local charitable organisation would be established to operate the new facility once it had been built, with a partnership between Haringey and Onside taking the proposal to forward.  A working group would be established to support work on the detail. 

Youth offer provision in the borough was currently limited and focussed on Bruce Grove Youth Space. The key to the success of the proposed development would be engaging and working with those within the local community who were best placed to advise on how to ensure that the new development and offer were attractive and sustainable.  It was acknowledged that some young people were reticent to move around the borough but the majority were not and the facilities and the offer would encourage them to attend the new provision irrespective of location.  In addition, the proposal provided an additional £750,000 revenue for youth services across the borough.

In answer to a question, Gill Gibson, the Assistant Director for Early Help and Prevention, reported that five youth zones facilities had been established for more than three years. There was currently no facility in London although several were currently under development.  OnSide had been established in 2008 in Bolton and aimed to be open 7 days a week and all year round.  The charity had brought together the private sector as well as youth service professionals.  Cllr Ayisi reported that other authorities had provided £400,000 but OnSide had accepted a lower amount from Haringey. OnSide were committed to working with the borough to develop provision.  Young people would be fully engaged in the design and development process. 

The Panel noted that the programme would be established jointly with young people and focus on a range of activities, including enterprise, music and sport.  It would provide a safe place for young people to meet and find someone to talk to.  There was also a commitment to establish youth outreach in the 9 months leading up to the new facility opening.  OnSide were aware of post code issues and had encountered similar issues in North Manchester and Wolverhampton.  There would be specific provision for girls and LGBT young people.  A specific charitable trust would be created to run services in Haringey. The key to ensuring that diversity was considered would be to ensure appropriate representation from the local community on the Haringey board. 

Ms Gibson reported that the proposals were consistent with the Council’s aspirations and strategies for children and young people. As a registered charity, the new facility would be in a position to attract external grant funding.  The future financial risk levels were considered to be low and it was felt to be a successful operating model that could be sustained.  They key risk for Haringey was the possibility of being left with the premises, should local fund raising not be achieved.  The Panel noted that it would initially be a three year commitment by the Council and that potentially £12 of social benefit would be generated from each £1 invested.   Success would be the establishment of a financially viable service with increased provision, more young people in employment and less anti social behaviour.  The Panel noted that there had been a reduction in anti social behaviour in Manchester following the establishment of a youth zone there. 

Cllr Ayisi reported that it was proposed to re-locate the community groups from Chestnuts Community Centre into alternative accommodation prior to securing permanent premises as part of local re-development.  It was not anticipated that the new building on the site would encroach significantly beyond the footprint of the current building.

The Panel expressed concern that the Equalities Impact Assessment had not been undertaken at an earlier stage.  It was important that it was not an after thought and considered fully in the development of the proposal.    It was also noted that dialogue has been taking place for two years and felt that engagement could therefore have taken place at an earlier stage. 

Councillor Ayisi commented that the proposal had been developed in the last few months.  In terms of the procurement process, there was no similar provider to compare the proposal with and it was considered highly unlikely, following soft market testing, that other organisations would be able to match the model presented.

AGREED:

1.    That the report be noted but that the Panel expresses its concerns in respect of the “one size fits all” model and lack of earlier engagement; and

2.    That Councillor Mark Blake be appointed to the Working Group.