PAPER B
Purpose
: For Decision
REPORT
TO THE EXECUTIVE
Date : 26 FEBRUARY 2003
Title
: YOUTH AND
COMMUNITY SERVICE BEST VALUE REVIEW
REPORT
OF THE PORTFOLIO HOLDER FOR EDUCATION AND LIFELONG LEARNING
IMPLEMENTATION DATE : 1 APRIL 2003
1.
To receive
the Executive Summary and Improvement Plan of the Youth and Community Service
Best Value Review January 2003 and to approve the Plan. This has been circulated to members of the
Executive under separate cover.
2.
The report is
not confidential.
3.
The Youth and
Community Service undertook a full and thorough Best Value Review during
2002. At the Education, Community
Development and Life Long Learning Select Committee on 28 January 2003 it was
resolved “That the Best Value Review and associated Improvement Plan be
recommended for approval by the Executive”.
4.
This Best
Value Review reports on the work undertaken by the Youth and Community Service
and sets out the framework to meet the Government’s objectives of Excellent
Youth Services.
5.
The Review
also sets out how the Service can improve delivery by restructuring in Thematic
and Area Teams. This will enable full
time staff to work more effectively with targeted groups of young people and
develop partnership working particularly with schools, without the restriction
of day to day management and evening clubs.
Work has commenced to restructure and develop these new areas.
6.
There is
enormous enthusiasm and energy from staff to restructure the Service into its
Thematic and Area teams to enable the Service to meet the challenges arising
from the Review and those of Government in ‘Resourcing Excellent Youth
Services’.
7.
Recruitment
and retention of staff is an issue and one which is shared with Youth Services
across the South of England therefore salaries and conditions of service need
to be attractive enough for youth workers to want to come to the Island. Salaries also need to reflect additional
responsibilities.
8.
This Best
Value Review supports the Opportunities for Young People Cross Cutting Best
Value Review.
9.
The
Improvement Plan sets out the way forward for the Youth and Community Service
to meet Government objectives for Youth Services and will enable the Service to
continue to meet and enhance its contribution to the Councils strategic
objectives.
10.
As part of
the Best Value Review process extensive consultation took place with service
stakeholders. These consultations were
very positive on the contribution the youth service makes in the development of
young people and gave strong leads to the way forward. These were implemented in the Improvement
Plan. The full consultation reports are
contained in the appendices which are available for viewing in the Youth and
Community Service offices. The full
report was also posted on the Council’s website.
11.
The budget
implications come in two phases; Phase One is required from April 2003, the
full cost to implement the Improvements recommended in the report is
£135,000. Set against the Councils
budget for 2003/04 it is unlikely this figure will be met in full. When the budget is known the Service will
need to review the Improvement Plan against the given budget. The second phase for April 2006 when funding
Streets Ahead through the Single Regeneration Budget (SRB) expires requiring
£59,500 and for the Youth Empowerment Worker post when the current round of
Transforming Youth Work Fund ends requiring £40,000. A gradual ring fenced budget build should be made for the
continuation of this work by mid 2006 to avoid potential redundancy payments.
The conduct of best value reviews is
under the provisions of the Local Government Act 1999.
13a) To
approve the Review and Improvement Plan in its entirety taking account of increased budgetary implication.
13b)
To approve the Review and Improvement Plan within the available budget 2003/04 onwards and agree the Phase 2 budget
build up to 2006.
14.
Option b) forms the recommendation which will allow
the Service to develop as guided by the Improvement Plan and avoids any
potential redundancy payments. Option
b) sets parameters of work within an available budget.
15.
The Improvement Plan sets out the way forward for the
Service and is in keeping with Government agenda through Transforming Youth
Work.
16.
Staff are keen to implement the Improvement Plan to
take the Service forward, not to approve the Best Value Review and Improvement
Plan will affect staff morale. It will
also make staff recruitment and retention more difficult in the future.
RECOMMENDATIONS 17.
To approve
the Best Value Review and Improvement Plan within the available budget
2003/04 onwards and agree the Phase 2 build up to 2006. |
18.
The Youth and
Community Service Best Value Report and Improvement Plan.
19.
The Youth and
Community Service Best Value Review Appendices (1-50) available for viewing in
the Youth and Community Service Office.
20.
Minutes of
the Education, Community Development and Life Long Learning Select Committee 11
November 2002 and 28 January 2003.
21.
Transforming
Youth Work
21a) Developing
Youth Work for Young People
21b) Planning
for the Local Authority Youth Service 2003/04 Guidance
21c) Resourcing
Excellent Youth Services
|
D
PETTITT Strategic
Director Education and Community Development |
J
WAREHAM Portfolio
Holder for Education and Lifelong Learning |