To consider a report, (including recommendations), from the Youth Strategy Scrutiny Task Group Review.
The report to be presented by Cllr Lesley Williams.
Minutes:
Cllr Lesley Williams, presented the findings, (including recommendations), of the Youth Strategy Scrutiny Task Group Review. The review had been undertaken following a motion to full council in March 2019 requesting the development of a ‘Youth Strategy’ for 8 to 24 year olds in Gloucestershire.
The membership of the task group included; Cllrs Carole Allaway-Martin, Stephen Davies, Terry Hale, Colin Hay, Steve Robinson, Eva Ward, Lesley Williams and Suzanne Williams. The task group had received support from the Children and Families Commissioning Team.
Drawing attention to the task group recommendations, Cllr Williams said that the work of the task group had been very positive, and had helped to identify a number of young people who, without the work of the task group, might not have received the attention they required to address the issues they were experiencing. Work was ongoing to consider several areas of concern. These included, an insufficient number of social workers, training needs and fragmented youth work.
Cllr Williams questioned the level of preventative work by the council and urged Cabinet to consider the negative impact of not investing in a more proactive approach to improving the life chances of young people across the county.
Thanking officers for their support, Cllr Williams proposed that the following recommendations be agreed:
Cllr Richard Boyles, Cabinet Member for Children’s Safeguarding and Early Years, thanked the task group for its work. He also thanked officers for the extensive work they had provided in supporting the task group.
Cllr Boyles stated that the proposals from the review would be added to the council’s existing work in developing a wider Youth Strategy for 2020; this included considering measures to help shape the future of the young people of Gloucestershire. Cllr Boyles welcomed the task group observations and offered to discuss the proposals in more detail after the meeting.
Leader of the Council, Cllr Mark Hawthorne, praised the task group for its work. Referring to the innovative work being undertaken throughout the county, Cllr Hawthorne suggested that the report be used to draw on the positive aspects of the council’s work and referenced to when considering areas requiring improvement.
The work of the task group had been presented to the Children and Families Scrutiny Committee and considered by the Children and Families Commissioning Team.
The report was noted.
Supporting documents: