AT A MEETING of the COMBINED YOUTH JUSTICE COMMITTEE held at The Castle, Winchester on Wednesday 22 January, 2003

PRESENT:

Hampshire County Council

Councillor Mrs. E.M.F. Randall

Councillor Mrs. P.G. Peskett

Southampton City Council

Councillor R.W. Harris (Chairman)

Councillor V. Moore

Portsmouth City Council

Councillor T. Blair

Probation Board

Mrs. A.F. Valentine

Hampshire Police Authority

Councillor Mrs. M.D. Snaith

Strategic Health Authority

Mr. B.Lipscomb

Youth Court Chairman

Mrs. M. Bowden JP - South and South East

Also in attendance:

P.J. Sutton - Head of Youth Offending Services

Chief Inspector M. Dulson - Hampshire Constabulary

Mrs. P. Robinson - Social Services, Portsmouth City Council

R. Pearce - National Probation Service (Hampshire)

Apologies received:

Councillor R. Baulk - Hampshire County Council

Councillor Mrs N. Bentley - Portsmouth City Council

Councillor C.R. Hancock - Isle of Wight Council

D. Boyle - Probation Board
Mrs E. McDonald - Youth Court Chairman

Mrs S. Crocker - Youth Court Chairman

J. Holland - National Probation Service

J. Black - Hampshire and Isle of Wight Magistrates Court's Committee

J. Doyle - Isle of Wight Social Services

R. Faulkner - Education, Isle of Wight Council

1 APPOINTMENT OF CHAIRMAN

RESOLVED:

That Councillor R.W. Harris, Southampton City Council be appointed Chairman of the Committee for 2003.

2 WELCOME AND INTRODUCTIONS

The Chairman welcomed Mr. B. Lipscomb representing the Strategic Health Authority to his first meeting of the Committee. The Chairman also reported that J. Holland, National Probation Service (Hampshire) was not in attendance at the meeting because of illness and welcomed R. Pearce who was representing him at the meeting. The Committee passed on its good wishes to J. Holland for a speedy recovery.

3 MINUTES

The Minutes of the meeting held on 25 September, 2002 were confirmed as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.

4 APPOINTMENT OF VICE-CHAIRMAN

RESOLVED:

That Mrs A. Valentine, Probation Board be appointed Vice-Chairman of the Committee for 2003.

5 OPERATIONAL AND VALUE FOR MONEY REVIEW : WESSEX YOUTH OFFENDING TEAM

The Committee considered a report of the Head of Youth Offending Services (Item 4 in the Minute Book) summarising the review recommendations, together with a proposed action plan for implementing the necessary changes.

The main findings of the review were reported to the Chief Officers Group in September where it was agreed that the Wessex YOT should continue as a cross -authority partnership. Chief Officers also agreed that additional senior managers should be appointed, subject to funding being available. At the same meeting, Chief Officers also nominated Mr. Peter Robertson, Chief Executive of Hampshire County Council to chair the YOT Management Board, following the departure of Mr. Charles Waddicor, formally Director of Social Services and Housing on the Isle of Wight.

The Committee considered the main findings of the review and in particular noted that 6% of the total budget was spent on management, compared to 10% at similar size organisations. The Committee supported the need for the appointment of additional senior managers.

The Committee also discussed in detail the Children's Fund and the types of projects to be funded. It was noted that 25% of the Children's fund would be spent on preventative work.

RESOLVED:

(i) That the report and action plan relating to the implementation of the recommendations of the Operational and Value for Money Review of the Wessex YOT, be noted.


(ii) That a further report be submitted to the Committee within the next 12 months.


(iii) That the Committee commend the work of the YOT in allocating new resources to frontline services in the past and support the appointment of additional management to support these new staff as soon as possible.

6 ANNUAL UPDATE OF THE 2002-2005 YOUTH JUSTICE PLAN

The Committee considered a report of the Head of Youth Offending Services (Item 5 in the Minute Book) detailing an early draft of the update to the Youth Justice Plan.

The Head of Youth Offending Services reported that funding discussions were ongoing with partner agencies and that the Youth Justice Board had announced its contributions to YOTs. For Wessex, this grant was approximately £1.2m in 2003-04, plus the ring fenced grant for the Intensive Supervision and Surveillance Programme. The Youth Justice Board's grant was given on condition that local partners did not reduce the level of funding which they provided. It was hoped that local partners would be able to at least maintain their level of financial contributions in real terms. It was, however, noted that the National Probation Service was under increasing pressure to reduce the level of funding and that ongoing discussions were taking place to lessen any impact.

The Committee discussed in detail the pressures on secure accommodation for young offenders in the south of England. The Committee expressed concerns about the situation and suggested that the Chairman write to the Youth Justice Board stating that whilst the YOT was trying to reduce the number of young offenders being placed in secure estate there was at the same time inadequate secure accommodation in the South of England.

RESOLVED:

(i) That the annual Youth Justice Plan be noted.


(ii) That the Committee promote opportunities for consultation over the draft plan in their agencies during February, 2003.


(iii) That the Committee receive the final version of the Youth Justice Plan in March, 2003 prior to its submission to the Youth Justice Board.


(iv) That the Chairman write to the Youth Justice Board highlighting the Committee's concerns about the shortage of secure accommodation in the South of England.

7 WORKPLAN FOR 2003

The Committee considered a report of the Head of Youth Offending Services (Item 6 in the Minute Book) detailing the proposed workplan for 2003, comprising in summary:

o A review of the Committee

o A conference aimed at publicising local services

o The scrutiny of regular audits of "Effective Practice"

o Items carried over from 2001/02


RESOLVED:

(i) That the workplan as detailed in the report be adopted.

(ii) That Chief Officers and Members of the YOT Management Board be invited to a seminar to discuss the future roles and responsibilities of the Committee.

(iii) That the Head of Youth Offending Services organise the annual conference.

8 THE YOUTH JUSTICE BOARD ANNUAL CONVENTION

The Committee considered a report of the Head of Youth Offending Services (Item 7 in the Minute Book) summarising the Youth Justice Board annual convention held in November, 2002.

It was noted that the 2003 convention would be held on Tuesday 11^th and Wednesday 12^th November at the Queen Elizabeth II Conference Centre, London.

RESOLVED:

That the report be noted.

9 EXCLUSION OF THE PRESS AND PUBLIC

RESOLVED:

That, by virtue of Paragraph 8 of Part I of Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act 1972, the press and public be excluded from the meeting during consideration of the following item.

10 CONTRACTS FOR THE PROVISION OF CRIME PREVENTION SERVICES AND FOR CONNEXIONS PERSONAL ADVISORS IN HAMPSHIRE (CONFIDENTIAL)

The Committee considered a confidential report of the Head of Youth Offending Services (Item 9 in the Minute Book) relating to the provision of crime prevention services and Connexions personal advisors in Hampshire.

RESOLVED:

That the Executive Member for Social Care (Hampshire County Council) be invited to approve a process of competitive tendering for a crime prevention project and personal advisors in the Hampshire area, subject to the confirmation of funding and to the recommendation of the Head of Youth Offending Services.

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