NOTES of the COMBINED YOUTH JUSTICE STANDING CONFERENCE held at The Civic Offices, Portsmouth City Council on Wednesday 6 October 2004.

PRESENT

Hampshire County Council

Councillor Pamela Peskett

Southampton City Council

Councillor Richard Harris

Portsmouth City Council

Councillor Paula Riches

Isle of Wight Council

Councillor Heather Humby

Probation Board

Dermot Boyle (Chair)

Councillor John Stocks

Hampshire Police Authority

Councillor Margaret Snaith

Youth Court Chairman

Rita Behan JP

Edgar Holmes JP

Georgette Houlbrook, JP

District Council Representative

Councillor Anne Claxton - East Hampshire District Council

Also in attendance

Phil Sutton - Manager, Wessex Youth Offending Team

Rob Faulkner - Isle of Wight Council (Education)

Stuart Gallimore - Portsmouth City Council (Social Services)

Eric Hills - Manager, SOVA

Liz Johnston - Team Manager, Hampshire Children Fund

Dale Tomlinson - Children's Fund Manager, Wessex Youth Offending Team

Larry Waller - Portsmouth Youth Inclusion and Support Panel Manager

Graham Wright - Hampshire County Council (Social Services)

Chief Inspector Clifford Williams - Hampshire Constabulary

1 CHAIR'S ANNOUNCEMENTS AND INFORMATION SHARING

The Chair welcomed those in attendance and in particular welcomed two new members, namely Councillor John Stocks representing the Probation Board and Chief Inspector Cliff Williams representing Hampshire Constabulary. The Chair also took this opportunity to record thanks to the former Chair of the Standing Conference, Councillor Richard Harris who had been Chair for the past three years.

2 NOTES

The notes of the meeting held on Wednesday 24 March 2004 were confirmed as a correct record and signed by the Chair.

Matters arising thereon:

Note No. 9 - Criminal Defence Service - the Head of Wessex Youth Offending Services reported that the Youth Offending Team had made a presentation in May 2004 to the Criminal Defence Service outlining the various options available other than remands into custody and he considered that the presentation had been well received.

3 YOUTH INCLUSION SUPPORT PANEL

The Conference received a detailed presentation from Dale Tomlinson, Children's Fund Manager, and Larry Waller, Programme Manager, Portsmouth Youth Inclusion and Support Panel Manager about Youth Inclusion Support Panel's (YISP's).

It was explained that the YISP's were multi-agency committees organised to prevent offending and anti-social behaviour of young people "at risk". YISP's aimed to achieve this by co-ordinating voluntary and community support with mainstream public services for young people and their families. The Children's Fund and the Youth Offending Team had overall responsibility for ensuring that YISPS were delivered in the Wessex area. The Conference also received a personal account from a mother whose family had benefited from a YISP.

The detailed presentation information is appended to these minutes.

Following the presentation, discussion centred on the source of referrals received by the YISP's and the fragile funding arrangement for the Panels.

The Standing Conference thanked Dale Tomlinson and Larry Waller for their detailed presentations.

4. RESTORATIVE YOUTH JUSTICE

The Conference received a presentation from Eric Hills, Manager of SOVA, a restorative youth justice provider to Wessex Youth Offending Team. The presentation explained the important work of SOVA in providing victim based intervention and mediation. The service dealt with between 120 to 150 new cases per quarter. It was noted that the service had been successful in recruiting a number of volunteers particularly from young people aged 19 to 27 years who wished to take up a career in social welfare.

The Conference thanked Eric Hills for his presentation.

5. WORK PLAN FOR 2005

The Conference considered the report of the Head of Youth Offending Services setting out a proposed programme for 2005 which reflected the feedback from Members.

The Conference agreed to the work programme for 2005.

6. RECENT DEVELOPMENTS IN THE YOUTH OFFENDING TEAM

The Conference considered the report of the Head of Youth Offending Services updating members on current developments and performance in the Wessex Youth Offending Team.

The Standing Conference noted the report.

7. DATES OF MEETINGS IN 2005

The Committee noted the following dates for 2005:

Wednesday 26 January 2005 (The Castle, Winchester)
April 2005 - at the date of the meeting this was unclear but it was agreed that the meeting would be held on the Isle of Wight ( subsequently confirmed as Wednesday 27 April 2005. )
Wednesday 28 September 2005 (The Castle, Winchester)

All meetings will start at 2.15 p.m.