Archived decisions

Item 2

AT A MEETING of the YOUTH PANEL held at the Hampshire County Youth Service, One Wessex Way, Colden Common, Winchester on Thursday 17 March 2005.

PRESENT :

Councillors: Mrs C.A. Leversha (Chairman), Dr R.J. Ellis, Jo Kelly, Mrs P.G. Peskett, Mrs P.A. West.

Also in attendance: Simon Newland.

99. DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST

Members were mindful that, where they believed they had a personal or personal prejudicial interest in any matter to be considered at the meeting, they should, normally at the time of debate, declare their interest and having regard to the circumstances described in paragraphs 9, 10, 11 and 12 of the County Council's Code of Conduct, consider whether to leave the meeting whilst the matter was discussed.

    Councillor Mrs West declared a personal interest in Item 9 - ARG154 and ARG158 - and Item 10 - Y320 - as a member of the management team of Foxlease Girlguiding Activity Centre. Councillor Mrs West also declared a non-pecuniary interest in Item 9 - ARG157 - as a member of the management team of Hampshire Federation of Young Farmers Clubs. She did not take part in the vote on these grants.

    Councillor Mrs Peskett declared a personal interest in Item 9 - ARG159 - as a member of the management committee of Youth Clubs Hampshire & Isle of Wight. She did not take part in the vote on this grant.

    Councillor Mrs Leversha declared a personal interest in Item 10 - Y323 - as the local County Councillor for the Court Moor Youth Centre. She did not take part in the vote on this grant.

100. MINUTES

The minutes of the meeting held on Thursday, 11 November 2004 were confirmed as a correct record of the meeting and signed by the Chairman.


    Matters Arising thereon:

    Minute 92 - Minutes (Minute 84 - Youth Service Annual Plan 2003/04)

    The County Education Officer advised the Panel that funding had been withdrawn for the post to support the age group 10-13 included in the Early Years and Child Care Unit Annual Plan, but that funding was being provided for development work in this age range in East Hampshire District.

    Minute 95 - County Youth Officer's Report

    The County Education Officer informed the panel that the planned restructuring of the Hampshire County Youth Council would be taking place after elections and advised members that the Youth Service was in the process of considering a variety of formal accreditations which young people could receive through projects managed by the Service.

    Minute 96 - Quality Assurance

    The County Education Officer confirmed to the panel that a review was in process to establish how bureaucracy and paperwork might be reduced within the Youth Service.

101. CHAIRMAN'S COMMUNICATIONS

    _ The panel observed a minute's silence to commemorate the death of Councillor D.G. Allen, Executive Member for Education.

    _ The Chairman gave her thanks to Councillor Ellis for chairing the meeting of the Youth Panel on Thursday 11 November at such short notice.

    _ The Chairman expressed her pleasure at the success the new youth facility in Hamble as a result of the hard work of the Senior Youth Worker Steve Willis and the joint work between the Youth Service, local schools, Eastleigh Borough Council and the local Parish Councils.

    _ The Chairman reported on her attendance at the Duke of Edinburgh Award General Council in Liverpool which was well attended by young people.

    _ The Chairman thanked Malcolm Rittman and Colin Poynter for their hard work to ensure continued funding for the Award Project - a partnership project of the Duke of Edinburgh Award scheme, Wessex Youth Offending Team and Hampshire County Youth Service.

    _ The Chairman expressed her appreciation to Councillor Thornber, Leader of the County Council, for permission to use £250,000 of savings for the Youth Service.

102. DEPUTATIONS

No deputations were received.

103. COUNTY YOUTH OFFICER'S REPORT

The Panel considered the report of the County Education Officer (Item 5 in the Minute Book) summarising recent developments in the service and providing an update on current issues. He highlighted the need for a balance in the work of the Youth Service between targeted and universal work, and the increase in work being done in coalition with schools. Members felt that the new Children Act might help to increase the number of good working relationships between schools and the Youth Service.

    The County Education Officer also emphasised the increase in the number of young people voting in elections for the United Kingdom Youth Parliament (UKYP) and the busy year which was expected for the Hampshire County Youth Council (HCYC). The panel was particularly pleased to hear that one young man had been so motivated by the annual HCYC residential event that he had returned to school after a long spell of truanting. The Chairman also expressed her congratulations to Della Hamilton, member of UKYP for Winchester and Eastleigh, for receiving the `Diana Memorial Award' for her contribution to citizenship.

    The panel welcomed the news that, despite a union vote for strike action over the issue of pay awards, Hampshire's Youth Workers chose not to strike in order not to jeopardise the close working relationship between youth workers and the Youth Service. It was felt by the Panel that it was important for the issue of pay awards to be dealt with sensitively given that around 80% of the Youth Service budget was spent on staffing.

    The County Education Officer addressed Members' concerns about Children Looked After by emphasising the need for the work with these young people to become proactive rather than reactive, as it historically had been.


    RESOLVED:

    That it be a RECOMMENDATION to the Executive Member for Education that the current developments in the Hampshire County Youth Service be welcomed and noted.

104. YOUTH WORK PLAN

The Panel considered the report of the County Education Officer (Item 6 in the Minute Book) detailing the proposed Hampshire County Youth Service Plan 2005/06. He emphasised the focus on equalities issues in youth work and the importance of ensuring that young people had quality experiences which would help them to achieve their potential. The County Education Officer also explained that all Senior Youth Workers would be expected to plan how their team would achieve the targets set out in the document.

    Some Members emphasised the importance of cultural activities for young people as well as outdoor activities. Members also expressed concerns regarding target age groups for youth work, highlighting that some of the most effective work was done with the younger age groups. The County Education Officer confirmed that the target age range for the Youth Service is 13-19 as identified by the Department for Education and Skills (DfES), National Youth Association (NYA) and Office for Standards in Education (Ofsted). The panel felt that it was important to include work with Children Looked After in the Youth Work Plan.


    RESOLVED:

    That it be a RECOMMENDATION to the Executive Member for Education that the Hampshire County Youth Service - Youth Work Plan for 2005/06 be approved.

105. STAFF DEVELOPMENT POLICY

The Panel considered a report of the County Education Officer (Item 7 in the Minute Book) providing an overview of the proposed Youth Service Staff Development Policy and the key actions necessary for its implementation. The County Education Officer highlighted the importance of high quality, trained and capable staff as the main asset of the Youth Service. He explained the Youth Service's history of providing excellent training opportunities for its staff. He further emphasised that the highest priority would be to deliver that training which was legally required, but that it was the intention of the Youth Service that training for personal and professional development would also be encouraged.

    Following Members' questions the County Education Officer highlighted the value of cooperation with the voluntary sector in training staff and the importance of equalities issues within the Service.


    RESOLVED:

    (i) That the Youth Service Staff Development Policy be welcomed.

    (ii) That is be a RECOMMENDATION to the Executive Member for Education that the Staff Development Policy for the Youth Service be approved.

106. YOUTH SERVICE WORK IN THE WINCHESTER DISTRICT

The Panel considered a report of the County Education Officer (Item 8 in the minute book) detailing the youth work in the Winchester District which is managed and supported by the Hampshire County Youth Service. He explained how youth work in the district had developed since 2003, the size of the area and the variety of the communities. He detailed several of the ongoing and possible projects of the Service.

    The County Education Officer emphasised the importance of a close working relationship with the voluntary sector and with Winchester City Council, as the Youth Service in the Winchester District had only one building of its own.

    RESOLVED:

    That the current development of Youth Work in Winchester District and the ongoing development of the working relationship with Winchester City Council be welcomed.

107. REVENUE GRANTS 2005/06

The Panel considered a report of the County Education Officer (Item 9 in the Minute Book) providing details of the Annual Revenue Grants to voluntary youth organisations.

    RESOLVED:

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

    (i) That the Grant Allocations totalling £115,080, as set below, be approved

    (ii) That the balance of £31,420 be added to the Project Development Grants for further allocation by the Panel.

    Ref no.

    		  

    County / district

    Amount

    ARG147

    The Source Café

    H&R

    £5,000

    ARG148

    Havant Youth Sail Training Scheme

    County

    £5,600

    ARG149

    Hawley UB40 Young People's Project

    H&R

    £4,000

    ARG150

    Eastleigh Millennium Volunteers Project

    Eastleigh

    £3,880

    ARG151

    Bishops Green Youth Project

    Basingstoke

    £8,700

    ARG152

    Hampshire and Isle of Wight Youth Options

    County

    £12,000

    ARG153

    Portsmouth Diocesan Board of Education

    County

    £2,000

    ARG154

    Hampshire North Guide Association

    County

    £3,000

    ARG155

    Hampshire Scout Council

    County

    £4,000

    ARG156

    Girls Brigade - Solent district

    County

    £300

    ARG157

    Hampshire Federation of Young Farmers Clubs

    County

    £16,000

    ARG158

    Girlguiding Hampshire East

    County

    £2,000

    ARG159

    Youth Clubs Hampshire and Isle of Wight

    County

    £20,000

    ARG160

    Winchester Detached Youth Work Project

    Winchester

    £3,000

    ARG161

    14 - 25 Winchester Youth Counselling

    Winchester

    £5,000

    ARG163

    Rkdia - Drum Housing

    East Hants

    £5,000

    ARG164

    Forest Bus

    N Forest

    £5,000

    ARG165

    Girls Brigade - Hampshire West

    County

    £600

    ARG166

    Emmaus Project

    H&R

    £5,000

    ARG167

    Off The Record

    Havant

    £5,000

     

    Total allocated

    		  

    £115,080

108. PROJECT DEVELOPMENT GRANTS 2004/05

The Panel considered a report of the County Education Officer (Item 10 in the Minute Book) providing information on the Project Development Grant Applications since the last meeting of the Panel on 11th November 2004.

    RESOLVED:

    That it be a RECOMMENDATION to the Executive Member for Education that Grant Allocations totalling £38,426, as set out below, be approved.

    Ref no.

    Name

    Grant

    Y318

    Bransgore Youth Project

    £4,000

    Y320

    Girlguiding Hampshire East

    £1,500

    Y322

    Off The Record

    £4,000

    Y323

    Court Moor Youth Centre, Fleet

    £25,426

     

    HCVYS for processing of ARGs (04/05)

    £3,500

         

    TOTAL

    		  

    £38,426