Issue - meetings

This report provides an overview of the current alignment of BCP Council against ‘Youth Matters: The National Strategy’.

The Head of Communities, Partnerships and Community Safety presented a report, a copy of which had been circulated to each Member and a copy of which appears as Appendix ‘B’ to these Minutes in the Minute Book.

This report provided an overview of BCP Council’s alignment with the National Youth Strategy and highlighted the strong alignment with the Children and Young People’s Partnership Plan.

The Committee discussed the report, including:

• In response to a query regarding the number of proposed youth hubs, the Committee was advised that further detail was not yet available, although BCP had been confirmed as part of phase two of the national programme.
• In response to a query regarding the role of the voluntary and community sector, the Committee was advised that whilst there was a strong reliance on the sector, this was not considered a governance risk, although additional support may be required where expectations increased.
• The Committee discussed opportunities to maximise funding, including external grant funding, and was advised that support was available through a funding advisor and associated resources.
• The Committee noted that the Strategy represented a complex, cross‑cutting programme of work spanning multiple service areas and was described as a blueprint for further development.
• The Committee emphasised the importance of ensuring that the next steps in delivery were shaped by the voices and lived experiences of young people.
• The Committee discussed the importance of identifying what could be delivered both now, without additional funding, and in readiness for future funding opportunities.
• The Committee highlighted the need for ongoing governance and regular updates to ensure the Strategy remained responsive to changing needs over time.

The Committee agreed that further work was required to develop the approach and that updates on implementation should be brought back to the Committee.

RESOLVED that the Children’s Services Overview and Scrutiny Committee:

1. Recommend to Cabinet the recommendations set out in the report.
2. Request that the Strategy be brought back to the Committee for an update on implementation within eight months.
3. Recommend to Cabinet that, within the summary section of all Council reports, a requirement be included to consider the impact on children and young people.

Voting: Unanimous