Agenda item

To receive a report from the Head of Governance and Scrutiny Support presenting additional information in response to requests made by the Board during the course of its inquiry this year.

The Head of Governance and Scrutiny Support submitted a report presenting additional information in response to requests made by the Board during the course of its inquiry this year.

The following was appended to the report:

-  Leeds Youth Council Open Spaces Questionnaire Results

-  Regional Youth Voice & Bus18 Meeting, Notes and Summary of Actions

-  Youth Voice Summit Event Report, March 2019

The following were in attendance:

-  Councillor Lisa Mulherin, Executive Member for Children and Families

-  Sal Tariq, Deputy Director of Children and Families

-  Phil Mellen, Deputy Director for Learning

-  Sue Rumbold, Chief Officer, Partnerships and Health

-  Jane Walne, Head of Programmes and Projects, City Development

-  Hannah Lamplugh, Voice and Influence Lead

-  Kathryn Holloway, Team Leader, City Development

-  Jenny Fisher, Principal Officer, Planning and Sustainable Development, City Development

-  Richard Cracknell, Voice and Influence Coordinator

-  Vicki Marsden, Play Strategy Officer

Parental engagement and influence on educational outcomes

·  Members were informed that most schools in the city are now keen to engage with parents around strategic plans, but further progress was needed. Members queried how this could be achieved, and were informed that there was an opportunity to share best practice. Members were also advised that the Voice, Influence and Change (VIC) Team had developed a model and guidance for Parent Councils across primary schools in the city.

·  Members commented on the likelihood for more engagement in primary schools, but challenges within secondary schools. Members queried whether there were varied approaches taken by Multi Academy Trusts (MATs) depending on whether they were local or national bodies. In response, the Board was informed that despite the type of MAT, all parental engagement activities tend to be devised and delivered locally.

·  The need for engagement with parents who do not take-up free pre-school hours that they are entitled to, to understand the barriers to access and how to encourage enrolment.

The voice and influence of young people surrounding the development of child friendly spaces through planning and City Development processes

·  There was some discussion surrounding the extent to which young people had been consulted during the recent Core Strategy and Site Allocation Plan examinations. Linked to this, Members were informed that consultation workshops in relation to the initial development stages of the Core Strategy had took place back in 2006 with the Leeds Youth Council.

·  Whilst acknowledging that there are clear legislative and external considerations linked to the way in which formal public hearings are undertaken, Members felt that more consideration was needed to enable young people’s voices to be heard, such as use of video links and holding meetings at more convenient times.  Whilst it was suggested that the Scrutiny Board may wish to raise such matters directly with the Planning Inspectorate, it was noted that the scope of opportunity to bring in the voice of young people could also be linked to the Council’s own forthcoming review of the Core Strategy, including a refresh of the Council’s Statement of Community Involvement.

·  In relation to significant planning and development decisions that are more localised, Members were informed that as the Youth Council is not currently recognised as a statutory consultee for planning applications, the choice to carry out any specific consultation with children and young people remained at the discretion of individual planning officers.  Whilst it was noted that children and young people would still be able to submit their views in the same way as any other member of the public, the Voice and Influence Lead Officer highlighted that local youth groups and schools in specific areas of planned development would be particularly receptive to greater engagement opportunities and that the VIC Team would be happy to work in partnership to explore this further.

·  Recent examples of active engagement work with young people by City Development was provided to the Board.  Particular reference was made to a successful workshop with housing developers looking at barriers and opportunities when developing environments, which took place in February 2019 involving young ambassadors and could be replicated.

·  Members requested that children and young people be included in the recruitment process for the new Chief Planning Officer, and that a question be included seeking the candidates ideas and ambitions to embed a child friendly agenda in the planning process.

The voice and influence of young people in identifying and addressing local transport needs

·  Members were informed that work with the Youth Council and the West Yorkshire Combined Authority was ongoing and progressing well.

Engaging young people in the Scrutiny Board’s Inquiry

·  The Chair thanked the VIC Team for their support with all of the visits to youth groups, and for the Youth Summit Event.

·  Members provided feedback on the individual visits and identified some common themes. There was clear evidence of feelings and experiences which threatened safety, specifically prevalence of anti-social behaviour and lack of police presence. There were also reports from female groups of feeling intimidated around groups of boys, and around adult men under the influence of alcohol in the city centre. Cost of travel also emerged as a theme, which children and young people felt acted as a barrier to their access to the city centre and other activities outside of their area. Some of the older groups reported that some activities felt ‘too young’, whereas they were unable to be involved in more adult activities and still felt that they required an element of support. There were concerns raised about mental health, and understanding amongst young people of what constitutes as a mental health problem in contrast to a wellbeing issue. There were a number of requests from young people for more low cost / no cost events across the City

RESOLVED – That the contents of the report, along with Members comments, be noted.

Co-opted Member Andrew Graham left the meeting at 12:00pm during discussion of this item. Councillors Gruen and Bruce left the meeting at 12:20pm and 12:45pm respectively during discussion of this item.