Issue - meetings

Report of the Director of Children’s Services.  To be introduced by the Cabinet Member for Children, Schools and Families.

The Cabinet Member for Children, Schools and Families introduced the report which sought endorsement of the implementation of the Annual Youth Justice Plan.

In response to questions from Councillor da Costa, the following was noted:

-               There had been concerns in regard to attendance at the Youth Justice Management Board, and officers had plans in place to increase attendance.

-               In relation to reducing reoffending due to decriminalisation, it was advised that this was due to looking at the wider context of the young persons’ life and the impact of this on their offending behaviour.  Staff were being trained to increase awareness in terms of supporting young people in alternative ways, rather than taking a punitive approach.

RESOLVED

To endorse the implementation of the Annual Youth Justice Plan, directing any comments and observations to the Assistant Director: Early Help, Prevention and SEND.

Reasons for decision

In England only, statutory youth justice plans must be signed off by full council. This requirement was suspended during the COVID pandemic but has since resumed. Throughout the COVID pandemic, the plan was discussed and endorsed at Children and Young People’s Scrutiny Panel. In advance of full council approval, the plan can be submitted with the approval of the Chair of the Youth Justice Strategic Partnership Board with confirmation of full sign off submitted at a later date. This partnership board has strategic responsibility to ensure youth justice services are delivered within its statutory remit. The ‘sign off’ by the Chair is an indication that the wider management board have approved the submitted plan which must be submitted to the Youth Justice Board (YJB) and published annually by 30 June 2023. This plan was approved by the Youth Justice Strategic Partnership Board on the 21^st June with the plan submitted to the YJB prior to the deadline.