Meeting documents
Youth and Play Service Advisory Committee
Wednesday, 7th May 2008
Present
Chair
Cllr T Harney
Councillors
S L Clarke, Mrs CM Meaden, GCJ Watt
Members
Peter Brandrick (Forum Housing Association)
Council Officers
Steve Chan (Acting Head, Play), Maria Charlesworth (Operations Manager, Response), John Davies (Wirral Youth Service), Peter Edmondson (Head of Branch, Participation & Inclusion), Debbie McCabe (Wirral Youth Service), Maureen McDaid (Head of Youth & Play Service)
In attendance:
Sheila Jacobs (Supported Housing Joint Commissioning Manager)
Apologies
Cllr Sarah Quinn
Index to Minutes
- Minute 20 - INTRODUCTIONS AND APOLOGIES
- Minute 21 - MINUTES
- Minute 22 - MATTERS ARISING
- Minute 23 - BRIEFING ON YOUTH HOMELESSNESS
- Minute 24 - HEAD OF SERVICE'S REPORT
- Minute 25 - WIRRAL EXECUTIVE YOUTH BOARD
- Minute 26 - NEXT MEETING
Minute 20 - INTRODUCTIONS AND APOLOGIES
Minute Text :
The Chair welcomed representatives of the Forum Housing Association (see minute 23 below).
Minute 21 - MINUTES
Minute Text :
Minute Decision :
Resolved - That, subject to adding Councillor Watt to the list of those present and to amending the reference in minute 12 from Pendle to Pembroke [House], the minutes of the meeting held on 7 January be agreed as a correct record.
Minute 22 - MATTERS ARISING
Minute Text :
Further to minute 18,
Minute Decision :
Resolved - That, if possible, the presentation on the Harmony Project be made to the next meeting.
Minute 23 - BRIEFING ON YOUTH HOMELESSNESS
Minute Text :
Following the discussion at the previous meeting, where the Committee had expressed its concern about the lack of access to housing among young people, Sheila Jacobs, Supported Housing Joint Commissioning Manager, gave a presentation on the Supporting People programme. She explained that the programme had an annual budget of over £10m per annum, delivered through various agencies, and supported a number of client groups, including young people at risk, homeless young people and homeless families. Approximately 25% of the budget was spent on young people and the single homeless, though that only amounted to 7% of clients.
The existing contracts for providing services were currently being reviewed with the aim of ensuring that the needs of young people were better met, particularly in relation to general need housing, and there would be a greater emphasis on the commissioning of services from September 2008. Forum Housing was currently the main provider and had developed some innovative services, but was limited in the choice of accommodation it could offer, i.e. mostly in hostels. In particular, it was necessary to ensure that sufficient provision was available when the ban on placing young people in bed and breakfast accommodation came into effect in 2010.
Supporting People funded the Housing Priority Panel - a multi-agency approach for ensuring that young people could move on to the right type of accommodation and for assessing what was the appropriate level of support, for example furniture packages. They were also working with Response, and taking note of young people's need for choice in where to live. Maria Charlesworth reported on young people's views of the services that were available. Some who were considered too vulnerable for hostel accommodation found themselves in risky situations. The new Stop Gap scheme was being piloted which would provide six highly supported beds, in the community, and give the young people and opportunity to stabilise their lives.
In response to members' queries, Sheila Jacobs stated that the number of young people in B & B accommodation was not large and the Borough had a reasonable number of hostel places. The problem lay with the shortage of accommodation to which young people could move on and be resettled.
The Chair asked about situations involving dependent children and whether there was any liaison with schools. He was advised that every effort was made to avoid B & B placements for families, but that area was under-resourced. Peter Brandrick, who had attended a recent meeting of secondary headteachers (WASH), added that there was certainly a need for more preventative work, and contact points in schools were being established. A particular issue was that problems often manifested themselves on a Friday afternoon, which created administrative difficulties both for the schools and other agencies.
The Chair suggested that the matter might feature in governors' training - there was certainly a need for greater understanding of the problems that young people could face - and he hoped that some of the Council's stock of land and premises might be applied to that end.
Minute Decision :
Resolved -
(1) That Sheila Jacobs be thanked for her presentation.
(2) That the Committee receive updates on housing issues, including progress of the Stop Gap scheme.
Minute 24 - HEAD OF SERVICE'S REPORT
Minute Text :
Maureen McDaid submitted a comprehensive report on the work of the Youth and Play Service since the previous meeting and highlighted a number of items.
In relation to the elections for the UK Youth Parliament, she indicated that the voting system was being reviewed and it was likely that the term of office would be extended to two years to allow representatives to gain more experience. She also reported an increase in the Youth Opportunities Fund (YOF) allocation, from £210,000 to £317,000; a one-off increase in the Youth Capital Fund (YCF), to £450,000; and the opportunity to bid for significant funding under the 'My Place' initiative - full details were expected in the near future, but it would be on similar lines to the Play Strategy, and a stakeholder event had been arranged for 19 June.
The Chair stressed the need for any new strategy to link in with existing ones, together with the work of other agencies and funding streams. They in turn would benefit from hearing the views of young people. Peter Edmondson responded that future programmes would be designed around their views, though there was always a possibility of raising expectations too high.
In response to members' queries, Debbie McCabe explained the publicity arrangements for inviting bids under YOF/YCF, and Peter Edmondson reported on the work being undertaken to develop a website specifically for young people, which it was hoped to complete in time for the Youth Parliament in October, earlier if the IT requirements permitted.
Minute Decision :
Resolved -
(1) That Maureen McDaid be thanked for her report.
(2) That the Committee receive an update at the next meeting on the process and timetable for funding bids.
Minute 25 - WIRRAL EXECUTIVE YOUTH BOARD
Minute Text :
The Head of the Youth and Play Service reported on progress in relation to the establishment of Wirral’s Executive Youth Board. She explained that in 2005 the Council had adopted the Charter of Participation as a policy for the development of participation by children and young people. Since then there had been an increase in the range of opportunities for participation. In 2006, the Council and partners had been awarded Beacon Status for Participation by children and young people in the Democratic and Community Process. In 2007, the Council with the other eight Beacon authorities had been successful in securing funding from the Cabinet Office to develop participation by young people further but at a strategic level. In Wirral’s case that meant the establishment of the Executive Youth Board.
There were already several ways in which children and young people were able to become involved in the decision making processes, and the Board would act as the overarching group for their consultation and involvement in strategic decision making. It would be the main contact point between young people and elected members. As part of being a member of the EYB, the young people would be expected to attend youth forums and ensure that young people in their locality were informed of issues and developments as they affected them. It was also expected that the EYB would link in with the Children and Young People’s Partnership Board.
A key exercise would be the recruitment of young people to the Board, and Annex A to the report set out the proposed composition and timetable for appointing the various representatives. The selection process would start on 7 June, and would be followed by a training session, also involving elected members, on 5 July.
Minute Decision :
Resolved - That the report be noted.
Minute 26 - NEXT MEETING
Minute Text :
Minute Decision :
Resolved - That the Chair agree a convenient date in July.
(Minutes Published: 18 July 2008)