COMBINED YOUTH JUSTICE COMMITTEE Appendix 1

TERMS OF REFERENCE

* AMENDMENTS HIGHLIGHTED IN BOLD AND ITALICS

1 The purpose of the Committee shall be to:

(a) foster the partnerships established between Local Authorities and other statutory agencies with the aim of reducing offending by young people.


(b) promote wide-ranging consultation in relation to the inter-agency strategy set out in the annual Youth Justice Plans.


(c) endorse the annual Youth Justice Plans for the Local Authorities.


(d) monitor the performance of the Wessex Youth Offending Team and of the Local Authorities and other participating agencies in relation to the annual Youth Justice Plan,


(e) to make recommendations to the relevant Executive Members for Social Care and Education Services of the Local Authorities, the Hampshire Probation Board, the Strategic Health Authority and the Police Authority.

2 The Committee shall comprise:

· Two members from Hampshire County Council, Isle of Wight Council, Portsmouth City Council and Southampton City Council, who have key responsibilities for Social Care and Education Services.


· One member of the Hampshire Police Authority.


· Two members of the Hampshire Probation Board.


· One member of the Strategic Health Authority.


· One member representing Primary Care Trusts.


· In addition, Hampshire County Council shall nominate a third member in recognition of it's particular responsibility for working together with the 11 district councils in relation to community safety.


Authorised substitute members may attend meetings in place of the nominated representatives if the latter are unable to attend.

3 Permanent co-options to the Committee are:

(a) Four Magistrates from the Youth Courts.


(b) The Clerk to the Justices for Hampshire.


Co-opted members will have an advisory role and will not be entitled to vote.

4 The Committee benefits from the advice of co-opted members and is empowered to co-opt additional members, particularly where they can strengthen the ability of the Committee to communicate effectively with the recipients of Youth Justice services, such as victims of youth crime, young people and their parents. However, it is important that co-options are maintained at a controlled level to ensure the capacity of the Committee to retain clarity and to process business effectively. Although these co-options are invited to every meeting, their attendance is not essential to the meeting being quorate. Their non-voting status reinforces their advisory role, based upon their particular experience and reflects their independence from the accountability of voting members to the statutory agencies who finance the Wessex Youth Offending Team. In addition to these permanent co-options, the Committee is free to invite officers or other advisers to assist at individual meetings with particular agenda items.

5 The Committee shall elect from among its members every January a Chairman and Vice-Chairman who shall be entitled to seek re-election, but for not more than three successive years.

6 The Committee shall meet not less than three times each year, and may in addition convene an annual conference in support of its overall aims.

7 The Secretary of the Committee shall convene additional meetings at the request of the Chairman or within seven days of receipt of notice from any of the constituent Authorities.

8 Conduct of meetings of the Committee shall be regulated by the Standing Orders of Hampshire County Council so far as the same are applicable to committees and are consistent with these terms of reference.

9 A quorum for the Committee shall be not less than six members, excluding co-options, with not less than three of the Local Authorities represented.

10 The Committee shall have no power to commit expenditure unless the proposal has previously been agreed in principle by the Authorities concerned.

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