Issue - meetings

The Local Authority has a statutory duty, in consultation with named legal partners Health, Police and Probation, to produce an annual Youth Justice Plan. The Plan sets out how services are to be organised and funded and what functions they will carry out to prevent youth offending and re-offending across Bath and North East Somerset.

The Council considered a report presenting the Youth Justice Plan 2019 – 20 setting out how services are organised and funded to prevent youth offending and re-offending across Bath and North East Somerset.

On a motion from Councillor Kevin Guy, seconded by Councillor Karen Walker, it was unanimously

RESOLVED

1.  To agree that the Youth Justice Plan fulfils the requirements of the Crime and Disorder Act 1998 and can be submitted to the Youth Justice Board for England and Wales;

2.  To adopt the Youth Justice Plan as part of the Council’s Policy and Budget framework that can be accommodated within the Council budget; and

3.  Note that the Youth Offending Service Management Board is responsible for ensuring delivery and ask the relevant Development and Scrutiny Panel to oversee performance.

The Local Authority has a statutory duty, in consultation with named legal partners Health, Police and Probation, to produce an annual Youth Justice Plan. The Plan sets out how services are to be organised and funded and what functions they will carry out to prevent youth offending and re-offending across Bath and North East Somerset.

Councillor Kevin Guy introduced the report by saying that Council has statutory duty to adopt the Youth Justice Plan although it would be a responsibility of the Youth Offending Service Management Board to ensure the delivery of the Plan.  Councillor Guy invited the relevant Development and Scrutiny Panel to oversee the performance of the Youth Offending Service Management Board by inviting their members to one of their meetings.

Councillor Guy also said that youth crime was on the rise locally and nationally, and that there has been a serious issue of a small but increasing number of young people being groomed and exploited into offending (including via so-called ‘county-lines’). 

Councillor Kevin Guy moved the recommendations.

Councillor Rob Appleyard seconded the motion by saying that the provision for the prevention of youth offending depends on national funding, which was now reduced by 0.4%.  Councillor Appleyard suggested that Police and Crime Commissioner Board should be more involved in supporting this work.

Councillor Paul Crossley said that in Southdown a number of young people who work with the Youth Offending Service undertook community reparation projects to help develop their understanding of the harm they have caused others and to make indirect amends. These projects included working with the Council Parks Department and community organisations to improve the environment and animal welfare.

Councillor Joanna Wright said that a venue such as Alice Park skateboard site was important for young people in terms of youth crime prevention. 

RESOLVED (unanimously) that the Cabinet:

2.1  Agreed the Youth Justice Plan fulfils the requirements of the Crime and Disorder Act 1998 and can be submitted to the Youth Justice Board for England and Wales;

2.2  Adopted the Youth Justice Plan as part of the Council’s Policy and Budget Framework that can be accommodated within the Council budget;

2.3  Noted that the Youth Offending Service Management Board is responsible for ensuring delivery and ask the relevant Development and Scrutiny Panel to oversee performance.