Issue - items at meetings - Brighton & Hove Youth Justice Strategy 2014-2016

11.1         The Committee considered a report of the Executive Director for Children’s Services in relation to the Brighton & Hove Youth Justice Strategy 2014-16. The Committee were asked to approve the Youth Justice Strategy for Brighton & Hove 2014-16. By way of introduction the Service Manager (Youth Offending Services) gave a presentation detailing an overview of the work of the team.

11.2         Councillor Mitchell welcomed the strategy and the partnership working detailed within it, but expressed concerns in relation to the reduction in funding. In response the Service Manager noted that reoffending was an issue in the city, and this was also increasing nationally. The service worked to identify young people on a trajectory into the Criminal Justice System, and worked to find alternative measures for resolution. It was added that different types of bail packages were also considered for example more young people coming out and going into care.

11.3         Councillor Wealls noted he had concerns in relation to; the lack of targets; a lack of engagement with the ‘not for profit’ sector and a concern about the level of finance input in this area when compared with other authorities. The Service Manager noted that the management board had made a very clear decision not to include targets, and instead felt consideration of the business plan was more appropriate to be clear about the aims of the service. There were reports each quarter to the management board, and close work with colleagues in education and health services who were able to set their own targets. In relation to funding it was clarified that this was multi-agency and difficult as the emerging year’s budget was often not clear.

11.4         Councillor Cox also noted the context of falling crime and the 10 year low in relation to drug use, and highlighted that this was not mentioned in the report. He went on to suggest that more payments could be made to third sector bodies to deliver results, and queried if some innovation was missed through a fully in-house service.

11.5         In response to Councillor Robins the Service Manager explained that if a young person went into custody they were more likely to re-offend, and managing young people through the community was considered important to addressing reoffending.

11.6         In response to Councillor Gilbey the Service Manager noted that the city had small cohort of young offenders, but the cohort had a high level of re-offending. A joint project with East and West Sussex County Council was underway to measure re-offending locally.

11.7         The Chair then put the recommendation to the vote.

11.8         RESOLVED – That the Committee approves the Youth Justice Strategy for Brighton and Hove 2014-16.