AT A MEETING of the YOUTH PANEL held at RKDIA, Horndean, East Hampshire on Tuesday 27 November 2001.

PRESENT:

Councillors: M.L. Sheehan (Chairman); Mrs S.E. Allbright; P.R. Brown; K.G. Chapman; R.J. Ellis; Jo Kelly; Mrs P.G. Peskett; Mrs P.A. West.

Co-opted Member: Rev. K. Green

Hampshire and Isle of Wight Association of Local Authorities

Councillor A. Mandry

Hampshire Council for Voluntary Youth Services

Mr A. Upson

Young People

Arthur Woodward

1. MINUTES

The Minutes of the meeting held on Tuesday 24 July 2001 confirmed by the Executive Member for Education on 21 September 2001 were noted.

2. CHAIRMAN'S STATEMENT

The Chairman welcomed everyone to the reconstituted Panel under the new Leader with Cabinet arrangements and thanked them for their attendance. The Chairman was pleased to announce that more than one hundred proud young people, youth workers and staff celebrated achievements during an awards evening in Winchester on Thursday 15 November 2001. The Hampshire County Council Youth Service event acknowledged an enormous range of personal challenges, volunteer work and learning achievements for both young people and staff. Recipients included Eastleigh youngsters, "the Young Mums Group" from the Hayling Youth project, four young women from the Chandlers Ford area and several youth workers and support staff working for Hampshire County Council's Youth Service.

3. TERMS OF REFERENCE

The Panel considered a report of the Chief Executive (Item 3 in the Minute Book) setting out the terms of reference for the Panel as agreed by the Executive Member for Education on 23 November 2001.

RESOLVED:

That the terms of reference be noted.

4. COUNTY YOUTH OFFICERS' REPORT

The Panel considered a report of the County Education Officer (Item 4 in the Minute Book) referring in particular to the County Youth Action Plan 2001/02; Youth Service summer activities; Hampshire County Youth Council; Best Value and Connexions.

It was reported that a review of the targets established in the County Action Plan demonstrated the Service was making good progress towards achieving all the targets and planned outcomes. In particular, the County Youth Officer was pleased to inform the Panel that staff recruitment and retention was at an all time high, with only three vacancies at the date of the meeting. The County Youth Officer also reported that the Education Department had been awarded a grant of £0.5m over the next three years for a summer activities programme.

RESOLVED:

That the current developments in the Youth Service be welcomed and noted.

5. YOUTH SERVICE WORK IN EAST HAMPSHIRE DISTRICT

The Panel considered a report of the County Education Officer (Item 5 in the Minute Book) detailing Youth Service work in the East Hampshire District.

In particular, the report highlighted significant achievements and key issues being addressed in the district. The Panel supported the establishment of an Information and Support Project and the introduction of the Connexions Service to the district.

RESOLVED:

(i) That the current developments in Youth Service work in East Hampshire be welcomed.


(ii) That the proposal for the development of an Information and Support Project and the Connexions Service within the district be supported.

6. PROJECT DEVELOPMENT GRANTS 2001/02

The Panel considered a report of the County Education Officer (Item 6 in the Minute Book) summarising project development grant applications received since the last meeting and recommending to the Executive Member for Education allocations totalling £7,075.

RESOLVED:

That it be a RECOMMENDATION to the Executive Member for Education:-

That the grant allocations as set out in the Appendix to the report and summarised below totalling £7,075 be approved;

Project Development Grants

7. PEER TRAINING

The Panel considered a report of the County Education Officer (Item 7 in the Minute Book) outlining the purpose of peer training and how it can be used to effectively inform and educate young people.

The Panel also received an informative presentation from young people on the Peer Training Project in Hart and Rushmoor. The presentation highlighted some of the work undertaken in the past six months, and contained many pieces of art work and a website highlighting the dangers of substance misuse. The young people presented to Panel Members a frame to thank Hampshire County Council for its support in the development of the cyber café at the Point Centre in Hart.

RESOLVED:

(i) That the success of peer education as a method of youth work be noted and welcomed.


(ii) That the young people on the Peer Training Project in Hart and Rushmoor be thanked for both their informative and interesting presentation.

8. COMBINED YOUTH JUSTICE COMMITTEE - MINUTES

The Panel received and noted the Minutes of the meeting of the Combined Youth Justice Committee held on 26 September 2001 (Item 8 in the Minute Book refers).

9. DATES FOR FUTURE MEETINGS

Members noted the dates, times and venues of meetings in 2002;

(i) 12 March 2002 at 2.15 p.m., Rushmoor


(ii) 2 July 2002 at 2.15 p.m., Test Valley


(iii) 12 November 2002 at 2.15 p.m., Fareham

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