Agenda item
TO CONSIDER MOTIONS SUBMITTED BY MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL
The motions submitted by Members of the Council for debate at this meeting are set out in agenda item 11 attached.
Decision:
11.1 Motion proposed by Councillor Stephanie Eaton regarding youth offenders
Councillor Shiria Khatun moved, and Councillor Sirajul Islam seconded, an amendment to the motion to add additional text under “This Council notes” and under “This Council resolves”. This was agreed and the substantive motion as amended was then agreed as follows:-
DECISION
This Council notes:
1. 60-80 young people come off criminal justice orders every quarter in Tower Hamlets, of which 30-40 young people are of school age.
2. That a reduction in re-offending is closely linked to successful settlement into work.
3. There are often difficulties placing young ex-offenders into work placements and other forms of employment or training as employers are cautious about employing ex-offenders, and the young people often require support in the workplace.
4. There is a tendency for employers to view the recruitment of young offenders as a corporate social responsibility when a solid business case could be developed to give employers confidence and justify employing young ex-offenders.
5. Many employers outsource roles which might be appropriate to young people leaving the criminal justice system, however, the outsourced companies have stringent screening processes which inhibit young offenders from recruitment.
6. KPMG and Freshfields have delivered successful employment programmes targeted at the homeless and these programmes may provide models for employment of young ex-offenders. Such programmes have been successful because both employers and employees are offered support such as an employer's helpline.
7. That opportunities provided for the small number of young ex-offenders in the Borough would benefit other young people through a reduction in victimisation; the development of positive role models; and the demonstration of the longer term benefits of work and training.
8. That this Labour Council’s Youth Offending Team (YOT) have made good progress in ensuring that 85% of the young offenders they have assisted in the last year are either in education training or employment at the end of their youth justice orders.
9. That the Tower Hamlets YOT has a series of successful partnerships with voluntary sector agencies as well as trainers that aim to place young people into training and work which lead to successful placements and positive outcomes for young offenders.
This Council resolves:
1. To develop an effective training into work model which reduces the risk associated with employing young ex-offenders, and which can be used to support firms to employ young ex-offenders.
2. To ensure the Youth Justice Board is working with organisations such as Community Links and East Potential to ensure there is a smooth transition into employment and training after criminal justice orders are concluded.
3. To work with partners such as Community Links and East Potential to develop a training programme for motivated ex-offenders who wish to become self-employed.
4. To investigate the potential for employment opportunities for young ex-offenders among the Council's larger contractors e.g. Veolia, and larger employers in the borough e.g. Tesco to discuss with them their attitude to employment of ex-offenders.
5. That the East London Business Alliance undertakes a project to investigate the business case, costs and opportunities for employing young ex-offenders based on their potential contribution to a company.
6. To fully assess the cost implications before commissioning projects or developing new services for Young Offenders in light of the current financial circumstances.
(Action by: Isobel Cattermole, Acting Corporate Director, Children Schools and Families)
Minutes:
11.1 Motion proposed by Councillor Stephanie Eaton regarding youth offenders
The motion as printed in the agenda was MOVED by Councillor Stephanie Eaton and SECONDED by Councillor Harun Miah.
Councillor Shiria Khatun then MOVED, and Councillor Sirajul Islam SECONDED, an AMENDMENT to the motion as follows:-
“Under “This council notes” add
“That this Labour Council’s Youth Offending Team (YOT) have made good progress in ensuring that 85% of the young offenders they have assisted in the last year are either in education training or employment at the end of their youth justice orders.”
“That the Tower Hamlets YOT has a series of successful partnerships with voluntary sector agencies as well as trainers that aim to place young people into training and work which lead to successful placements and positive outcomes for young offenders”
Under “This Council resolves” add
“To fully assess the cost implications before commissioning projects or developing new services for Young Offenders in light of the current financial circumstances.”
After discussion, the amendment moved by Councillor Shiria Khatun was put to the vote and was agreed.
The substantive motion as amended was then put to the vote and was agreed with no Member voting against. Accordingly it was:-
RESOLVED
This Council notes:
1. 60-80 young people come off criminal justice orders every quarter in Tower Hamlets, of which 30-40 young people are of school age.
2. That a reduction in re-offending is closely linked to successful settlement into work.
3. There are often difficulties placing young ex-offenders into work placements and other forms of employment or training as employers are cautious about employing ex-offenders, and the young people often require support in the workplace.
4. There is a tendency for employers to view the recruitment of young offenders as a corporate social responsibility when a solid business case could be developed to give employers confidence and justify employing young ex-offenders.
5. Many employers outsource roles which might be appropriate to young people leaving the criminal justice system, however, the outsourced companies have stringent screening processes which inhibit young offenders from recruitment.
6. KPMG and Freshfields have delivered successful employment programmes targeted at the homeless and these programmes may provide models for employment of young ex-offenders. Such programmes have been successful because both employers and employees are offered support such as an employer's helpline.
7. That opportunities provided for the small number of young ex-offenders in the Borough would benefit other young people through a reduction in victimisation; the development of positive role models; and the demonstration of the longer term benefits of work and training.
8. That this Labour Council’s Youth Offending Team (YOT) have made good progress in ensuring that 85% of the young offenders they have assisted in the last year are either in education training or employment at the end of their youth justice orders.
9. That the Tower Hamlets YOT has a series of successful partnerships with voluntary sector agencies as well as trainers that aim to place young people into training and work which lead to successful placements and positive outcomes for young offenders.
This Council resolves:
1. To develop an effective training into work model which reduces the risk associated with employing young ex-offenders, and which can be used to support firms to employ young ex-offenders.
2. To ensure the Youth Justice Board is working with organisations such as Community Links and East Potential to ensure there is a smooth transition into employment and training after criminal justice orders are concluded.
3. To work with partners such as Community Links and East Potential to develop a training programme for motivated ex-offenders who wish to become self-employed.
4. To investigate the potential for employment opportunities for young ex-offenders among the Council's larger contractors e.g. Veolia, and larger employers in the borough e.g. Tesco to discuss with them their attitude to employment of ex-offenders.
5. That the East London Business Alliance undertakes a project to investigate the business case, costs and opportunities for employing young ex-offenders based on their potential contribution to a company.
6. To fully assess the cost implications before commissioning projects or developing new services for Young Offenders in light of the current financial circumstances.
Supporting documents: