Rebirth of Youth Services
The following motion submitted in accordance with Procedure Rule 10 of the Meeting Procedure Rules has been proposed by Councillor P Cooper and seconded by Councillor S Carr-Brown
This Council Notes That
1. The Government announced in November 2024 the development of a National Youth Strategy to give young people the opportunity to co-produce the strategy to support services, facilities and opportunities they need outside the school gates to benefit their lives and future.
2. Local Authority spending on youth provision has reduced by 73% since 2010 which equates to £1 billion less being spent on young people each year.
3. A distinction should be made between youth work as a professional relationship-based approach that empowers young people, and simply working with young people, which may not centre their needs, voices, or long-term development.
This Council Believes That:
1. A strong, strategically funded youth service is essential for the well-being, safety, and future opportunities of young people in BCP.
2. Youth voice must be embedded across all decision-making structures to ensure policies reflect the lived experiences, needs, and aspirations of young people.
3. A clear distinction between youth work and working with young people must be understood and upheld in policy and practice, ensuring that youth work is valued as a professional, developmental process.
This Council Resolves To:
a) Publicise the Government’s national survey which asks young people to respond by 9 April 2025.
b) Develop a BCP strategic plan for the rebirth of youth services, ensuring that youth work is recognised, funded, and properly resourced.
c) Establish a Youth Futures Hub, in line with the Government’s strategy, to directly engage young people in shaping local policies and decisions, ensuring meaningful representation at all levels of governance.
d) To ask the Children’s Overview & Scrutiny Committee to conduct a review of existing current youth provision, identifying gaps and opportunities for investment in professional youth work, detached youth work, and community-based youth services.
Minutes:
Council was advised that one motion had been received on this occasion.
Rebirth of Youth Services
The following motion was submitted in accordance with Procedure Rule 9 of the Meeting Procedure Rules and was moved by Councillor Peter Cooper and seconded by Councillor Patrick Canavan.
This Council Notes That
1. The Government announced in November 2024 the development of a National Youth Strategy to give young people the opportunity to co-produce the strategy to support services, facilities and opportunities they need outside the school gates to benefit their lives and future.
2. Local Authority spending on youth provision has reduced by 73% since 2010 which equates to £1 billion less being spent on young people each year.
3. A distinction should be made between youth work as a professional relationship-based approach that empowers young people, and simply working with young people, which may not centre their needs, voices, or long-term development.
This Council Believes That:
1. A strong, strategically funded youth service is essential for the well-being, safety, and future opportunities of young people in BCP.
2. Youth voice must be embedded across all decision-making structures to ensure policies reflect the lived experiences, needs, and aspirations of young people.
3. A clear distinction between youth work and working with young people must be understood and upheld in policy and practice, ensuring that youth work is valued as a professional, developmental process.
This Council Resolves To:
(a) Publicise the Government’s national survey which asks young people to respond by 9 April 2025.
(b) Develop a BCP strategic plan for the rebirth of youth services, ensuring that youth work is recognised, funded, and properly resourced.
(c) Establish a Youth Futures Hub, in line with the Government’s strategy, to directly engage young people in shaping local policies and decisions, ensuring meaningful representation at all levels of governance.
(d) To ask the Children’s Overview & Scrutiny Committee to conduct a review of existing current youth provision, identifying gaps and opportunities for investment in professional youth work, detached youth work, and community-based youth services.
Councillor Joe Salmon proposed an amendment to the motion with the following additions to read: -
1. Add to "This Council Notes That":
New Point 4:
"Despite the change in government, funding levels for local authorities remain well below pre 2010 levels, making it challenging for councils to fully fund services for young people."
New Point 4:
"The council is not adequately funded by central government to deliver the services young people deserve, and further local tax increases would place an unsustainable burden on residents while failing to meet the need."
"Given that the recent budget process saw no viable proposals to reprioritise funding towards children’s services, additional central government investment is the only way to secure meaningful improvements."
New Point e):
"To instruct the Leader of the Council to write to the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities and the Minister for Children, Families and Wellbeing, urging the Government to provide the funding required to meet the needs of young people in our area."
This amendment was seconded by Councillor Sara Armstrong.
The proposer and seconder of the original motion advised that they accepted an amendment. Council agreement was sought to confirm the amendment as the substantive motion which was subsequently carried without dissent.
Councillor Richard Burton proposed an amendment to the motion with an amendment to recommendation (b) to read: -
Develop a BCP strategic plan for the rebirth of youth services, ensuring that youth work is recognised, funded, and properly resourced. When the Government National strategy is published and resources clarified.
This amendment was seconded by Councillor Sandra Moore.
The proposer and seconder of the original motion advised that they accepted an amendment. Council agreement was sought to confirm the amendment as the substantive motion which was subsequently carried without dissent.
Comprehensive discussion took place on the motion with members speaking in support of the motion and of the importance of youth services.
This Council Resolves To:
(a) Publicise the Government’s national survey which asks young people to respond by 9 April 2025.
(b) Develop a BCP strategic plan for the rebirth of youth services, ensuring that youth work is recognised, funded, and properly resourced. When the Government National strategy is published and resources clarified.
(c) Establish a Youth Futures Hub, in line with the Government’s strategy, to directly engage young people in shaping local policies and decisions, ensuring meaningful representation at all levels of governance.
(d) To ask the Children’s Overview & Scrutiny Committee to conduct a review of existing current youth provision, identifying gaps and opportunities for investment in professional youth work, detached youth work, and community-based youth services.
Voting: Agreed with no dissent
Councillors Sharon Carr-Brown, Brian Chick, David Flagg, Gillian Martin, Simon McCormack, Lisa Northover and Rachel Pattinson-West