Report by Executive Director Children’s Services

Further to Minute 16 of the Adult Social Care, Children’s Services & Education Committee held on 18 October 2023, the Executive Director for Children’s Services submitted a report on the Youth Justice Plan 2023-24.  The report explained that the Crime and Disorder Act 1998 and a condition of the Youth Justice Board Grant, had placed a duty on the Local Authority to produce an annual Plan and for it to be ratified by Council.  The Plan had already been signed off by the Youth Justice Partnership through the Youth Justice Management Board, which was independently chaired. The plan reported the performance of Youth Justice Service for 2022/23 against the national and statistical family comparators in the period.

A peer review, requested by the Youth Justice Board, had taken place in November 2022 and the recommendations had been incorporated into the Plan.  The Plan had also included information on the youth justice cohort for 2021-23.

The annual report identified the following areas as priorities for 2023-24:

• Reducing first time entrants into the criminal justice system
• Addressing disproportionality within the justice system
• Reducing the impact of serious violence
• The increased participation and engagement of children, young people and their families in the service.

It was reported that the Youth Justice Management Board had oversight of the Plan and performance against the targets, and these were reported through the mechanisms of the management board structure.  A copy of the Plan was appended to the report for Council’s formal approval.

The following motion was moved by Councillor Hoskin and seconded by Councillor Mpofu-Coles and CARRIED:

Resolved –

That the Youth Justice Plan 2023-2024 be adopted, as attached to the report at Appendix 1.

(Councillor Ennis declared a prejudicial interest in the above item on the basis he was employed in the Probation Service and was the Chair of the Youth Justice Board.  Councillor Hacker also declared a pecuniary interest in the above item on the basis that she was employed by Alanis House.  They both left the meeting and took no part in the debate or decision)