Issue - meetings

RECOMMENDED that the Youth Justice Plan 2026/27 be approved by Full Council.

The Portfolio Holder for Children, Young People, Education and Skills presented the report on the Youth Justice Plan 2026-2027 and outlined the recommendations as set out in the supplementary agenda pack.

RESOLVED that the Youth Justice Plan 2026/27 be approved by Full Council.

Voting: Unanimous

Councillor Sara Armstrong declared an interest in this item and left the room for the discussion and voting thereon.

The Crime and Disorder Act (1998) places a statutory requirement on local authority youth offending teams to publish an annual Youth Justice Plan which must provide specified information about the local provision of youth justice services. This report summarises the Youth Justice Plan for 2026/27, with a copy of the Plan appended. The Youth Justice Plan needs to be approved by the full Council.

The Youth Justice Plan shows strong performance by the service. Achievements include diverting children from the justice system, avoiding the use of custody for children, and the quality of work to reduce the likelihood of reoffending and to repair the harm caused to victims.

Priorities for the year ahead are to respond to national and local reform programmes, enhancing ‘Child First’ practice, developing work with victims, reducing the over-representation of some groups of children in the justice system, and making best use of available resources.

The Portfolio Holder for Children & Young People, Education and Skills presented a report, a copy of which had been circulated to each Member and a copy of which appears as Appendix 'C' to these Minutes in the Minute Book.

Cabinet was advised that the Crime and Disorder Act (1998) placed a statutory requirement on local authority youth offending teams to publish an annual Youth Justice Plan which must provide specified information about the local provision of youth justice services, and that this report summarised the Youth Justice Plan for 2026/27, with a copy of the Plan appended.

In relation to this Cabinet was advised that the Youth Justice Plan needed to be approved by the full Council.

Cabinet was informed that the Youth Justice Plan showed strong performance by the service, and that achievements included diverting children from the justice system, avoiding the use of custody for children, and the quality of work to reduce the likelihood of reoffending and to repair the harm caused to victims.

Cabinet was advised that priorities for the year ahead were to respond to national and local reform programmes, enhancing ‘Child First’ practice, developing work with victims, reducing the over-representation of some groups of children in the justice system, and making best use of available resources.

RECOMMENDED that the Youth Justice Plan 2026/27 be approved by Full Council.

Voting: Unanimous

Portfolio Holder: Children & Young People, Education and Skills

Youth Justice Services are required to publish an annual Youth Justice Plan which should be approved by the Local Authority for that Youth Justice Service. Dorset Combined Youth Justice Service works across both Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole Council and Dorset Council. Approval is therefore sought from both Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole Council and from Dorset Council.

The Portfolio Holder for Children & Young People, Education and Skills presented a report, a copy of which had been circulated to each Member and a copy of which appears as Appendix 'C' to these Minutes in the Minute Book.

Cabinet was advised that the Crime and Disorder Act (1998) placed a statutory requirement on local authority youth offending teams to publish an annual Youth Justice Plan which must provide specified information about the local provision of youth justice services, and that this report summarised the Youth Justice Plan for 2026/27, with a copy of the Plan appended.

In relation to this Cabinet was advised that the Youth Justice Plan needed to be approved by the full Council.

Cabinet was informed that the Youth Justice Plan showed strong performance by the service, and that achievements included diverting children from the justice system, avoiding the use of custody for children, and the quality of work to reduce the likelihood of reoffending and to repair the harm caused to victims.

Cabinet was advised that priorities for the year ahead were to respond to national and local reform programmes, enhancing ‘Child First’ practice, developing work with victims, reducing the over-representation of some groups of children in the justice system, and making best use of available resources.

RECOMMENDED that the Youth Justice Plan 2026/27 be approved by Full Council.

Voting: Unanimous

Portfolio Holder: Children & Young People, Education and Skills

Youth Justice Services are required to publish an annual Youth Justice Plan which should be approved by the Local Authority for that Youth Justice Service. Dorset Combined Youth Justice Service works across both Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole Council and Dorset Council. Approval is therefore sought from both Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole Council and from Dorset Council.

The Crime and Disorder Act (1998) places a statutory requirement on local authority youth offending teams to publish an annual Youth Justice Plan which must provide specified information about the local provision of youth justice services. This report summarises the Youth Justice Plan for 2026/27, with a copy of the Plan appended. The Youth Justice Plan needs to be approved by the full Council.

The Youth Justice Plan shows strong performance by the service. Achievements include diverting children from the justice system, avoiding the use of custody for children, and the quality of work to reduce the likelihood of reoffending and to repair the harm caused to victims.

Priorities for the year ahead are to respond to national and local reform programmes, enhancing ‘Child First’ practice, developing work with victims, reducing the over-representation of some groups of children in the justice system, and making best use of available resources.

The Head of Service, Dorset Combined Youth Justice Service presented a report, a copy of which had been circulated to each Member and a copy of which appears as Appendix ‘C’ to these Minutes in the Minute Book.

The Crime and Disorder Act (1998) placed a statutory requirement on local authority youth offending teams to publish an annual Youth Justice Plan which must provide specified information about the local provision of youth justice services. The report summarised the Youth Justice Plan for 2026/27, with a copy of the Plan appended. The Youth Justice Plan required approval by Full Council.

The Plan demonstrated strong performance by the service, including diverting children from the justice system, avoiding the use of custody for children, and delivering high-quality work to reduce reoffending and repair harm caused to victims.

Priorities for the year ahead included responding to national and local reform programmes, enhancing ‘Child First’ practice, developing work with victims, reducing the over-representation of some groups of children in the justice system, and making best use of available resources.

The Committee discussed the report, including:

• In response to a query regarding speech and language needs, the Committee was advised of the importance of early identification, noting that many needs were not recognised until young people entered the Youth Justice system and that work had been undertaken to better understand the scale of need.
• The Committee discussed the ongoing funding for speech and language support and highlighted the importance of ensuring continued provision beyond current funding arrangements.
• The Committee highlighted the importance of raising awareness across schools and services to support earlier intervention and was advised that officers were supportive of this approach and would continue to work with partners, including through the Schools Forum, to promote this.
• The Committee discussed the alignment of the Youth Justice Plan with the wider development of the Youth Strategy and the importance of a joined-up approach to supporting young people.

The Committee acknowledged the strong performance of the service and the continued focus on prevention and early intervention.

RESOLVED that the Committee endorse the Youth Justice Plan 2026–2027 so that Cabinet can recommend its approval to Full Council.

Voting: Unanimous