The Pre-Decision Scrutiny Questions and officer responses were noted.

DECISION

1.    To approve the proposed model for delivery of commissioned and in-house youth activity provision.

2.    To approve the commissioned contract value for centre based youth activity; detached youth projects; and specialist youth provision for the period 2021-2024 (CS5678).

3.    Following tender, delegate authority to the Corporate Director Children’s and Culture to award contract CS5678.

4.    To authorise the Divisional Director, Legal Services to execute all necessary contract documents in respect of the awards of contract CS5678.

5.    To approve a up to 4-month extension to the exiting providers 1-year contract due to potential delays in engaging with stakeholders during the Covid 19 pandemic.

6.    To approve the additional MTFS savings of £100,000.

Action by:

CORPORATE DIRECTOR, CHILDREN AND CULTURE (J. THOMAS)

(Divisional Director, Youth and Commissioning (R. Martins-Taylor)

(Youth Service Strategic Development Lead (M Bannis-Royer)

Councillor Asma Begum, Deputy Mayor and Cabinet Member for Community Safety, Youth and Equalities, introduced the report providing an update on work to review the Council’s Youth Service delivery model.

The meeting then heard from a number of young people, parents and service providers on the high value they placed on the services they accessed and the need to ensure young people were supported through appropriate services in future. The report was then debated by those present at the meeting.

The Mayor thanked everyone for their contributions to the discussion. He highlighted the importance of youth provision to many young people in the borough and that he and his administration would continue to ensure the Council directed its limited resources in the best way, which is what this model was designed to achieve. He also highlighted that further work would be taking place to consult with services and service users on the future of youth services. Finally, he indicated that he would be looking to see if the saving set out in the recommendations could possibly be reinvested in commissioned services in future although he was cautious as to what was possible.

He noted the Pre-Decision Scrutiny Questions and officer responses and agreed the recommendations as set out.

RESOLVED

1.    To approve the proposed model for delivery of commissioned and in-house youth activity provision.

2.    To approve the commissioned contract value for centre based youth activity; detached youth projects; and specialist youth provision for the period 2021-2024 (CS5678).

3.    Following tender, delegate authority to the Corporate Director Children’s and Culture to award contract CS5678.

4.    To authorise the Divisional Director, Legal Services to execute all necessary contract documents in respect of the awards of contract CS5678.

5.    To approve a up to 4-month extension to the exiting providers 1-year contract due to potential delays in engaging with stakeholders during the Covid 19 pandemic.

6.    To approve the additional MTFS savings of £100,000.