Agenda item

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

This is a council policy framework document and for consideration and comment by Cabinet and onward approval is required from full council to implement the statutory youth justice plan.

The Cabinet Member for Communities introduced the report which sought to inform members of Cabinet of the priorities within the statutory Youth Justice Plan for 2024- 2027 and to seek approval from Full Council to implement the plan.

The report further set out how the services would be developed, how they would be funded, and how the Youth Justice Service will run over the next three years.

In response to questions from Cllr Emery, the following information was provided:

-       That the 27% of young people commenting with the view that improvements to the youth provision were needed, related to meetings taking place at a later time in the evening, interventions including an element of inclusive activities such as playing pool, and also meeting at a youth club rather than just a focused one to one session. As part of the response, the service had purchased a pool table and made the environment at the Youth Justice Service more welcoming.

-       In terms of the 80% target for entrance to employment, this was something the service believed could be achieved. The clear area of focus was the post 16 cohort, and the vast majority did remain in education, employment and training. There was a full-time dedicated officer focusing on this area of work and working with post 16 educational providers to support provision of places for young people in the justice system.

-       Regarding the graph on page 389, showing rates of first-time offenders and change in figures in comparison to 2021 and being compared to neighbouring boroughs figures, this was clarified to be an increase of only six children. It was explained that this was a very small cohort, but proportionally when compared to the rate of other London boroughs was illustrating a starker increase. In response to the query on potential factors, these were contextual such as deprivation, income and substance misuse, and all areas that were being targeted by the commission.

RESOLVED:

1.          To note that the Children and Young People’s scrutiny Panel have no changes to the annual Youth Justice Plan and recommend Cabinet note their comments in accordance with Part four Section E paragraph 2.2 of the Council’s Constitution as outlined in paragraph 4.8.

2.         To recommend to full Council adoption of the annual Youth Justice Plan.

Reasons for Decisions:

Recommendation 1) It is the duty of each local authority after consultation with partners to formulate and implement an annual youth justice plan setting out:

a) how youth justice services in their area are to be provided and funded; and

b) how the Youth Justice Service will be composed and funded; how it will operate, and what functions it will carry out.

Recommendation 2) The document is the youth justice partnership’s main statement of purpose and sets out its proposals to prevent offending by children and young people. The plan shows not only what the Youth Justice Service (YJS) will deliver as a service, but what progress had been made on the strategic priorities and how strategic links with other supporting initiatives will be developed and maintained.

Alternative options considered

N/A