Agenda item

To receive the report of the Head of Commissioning, Children and Families, this report presents the findings of the Youth Work review and the recommended option for future commissioning arrangements.

The report of the Head of Commissioning, Children and Families was added to the agenda of the meeting with the agreement of the Chair. The Executive Member for Communities had requested that the report be presented to all the Community Committees. Minute 29 refers.

The report set out the findings of the Youth Work Review and the recommended option for future commissioning arrangements.

The report provided information on the current services delivery set out as:

·  Geographically Targeted Youth Service

·  Youth Inclusion Commission

·  Pathways grants

A description had been provided for Members information within the report including the budget for each service.

Members were advised that having limited third sector contracts in just one area had created inconsistency in how youth work is delivered across the city. It was noted that the service was bound by procurement law.

The service had agreed that a process should be undertaken to review the population, the needs of young people, identify assets and gaps in current service delivery and agree a new commissioning model in line with Contract Procedure Rules.

Consultation was carried out for the review with a number of services and partner agencies, including online and face to face consultation with over 500 young people.

A wide range of data was collected and analysed for the review including demographics, school attainment and absenteeism, crime/anti-social behaviour and from current youth work provision. A selection of the data was appended to the submitted report.

The review presented nine conclusions based on the data and feedback from the consultation. These conclusions set out at point 10 of the submitted report formed the basis of the proposed commissioning model.

The recommended commissioning model was set out at point 12 of the submitted report and incorporated the following features:

·  Geographically Targeted Youth Service;

·  Transitional Youth Inclusion Service;

·  NEET Prevention Project;

The table also provided the Members with a description of the future service area and the proposed budget for the service.

Members’ attention was drawn to the diagram at point 13 of the report. Members heard that the new model would have a clear distinction between provision for different ages.  The diagram showed provision for 9-12 year olds would be provided by the third sector with internal service from Leeds City Council focusing on 12 -17 year olds.

Members noted the information appended to the submitted report in relation to budgets and data collection.

Members discussed the following points:

·  Schools as the access to youth provision

·  Venues for youth activities

·  Third sector provision

·  Care leavers

·  NEET figures

·  Top up provision for certain areas

·  The need to work in partnership with strategies such as Child Poverty

·  Need to use the same language across all areas within the council

·  Need for links and clarification on who is doing what, when and where

·  Link to apprenticeships

·  Links to Friday and Saturday Night Projects

Members’ attention had been drawn to the appendices which had been provided to show how the data sets impacted on the Inner West area particularly Armley and Kirkstall.

Members requested further information on the figures which had been used during the presentation.

Members were informed that there was an opportunity for ward members to make comments on a ward basis and officers would be contacting them.

RESOLVED – To comment on the contents of the report and the recommended future commissioning arrangements.

The Chair thanked the officers for attending and providing a good discussion during the meeting.

Cllr. Venner joined the meeting at 7:25pm at the start of item 35.