Council and councillors

To receive Report No 219/2015 from the Director for People.

During the discussion the following point was noted:

i.        The Head of Families Support-Early Years and Intervention told the Panel that the balance ofexpenditure is our obligation. It is resource intensive, due to the need ofthree or four officers at a youth club.

ii.       The Deputy Director told the Panel thatthe universal services can only be accessed atone point. In reality it is never the case and toget the measure of the true impact is very difficult and it is hard toget the metrics correct. Some local authorities questioned whether they should use volunteers or supply the resources themselves.

iii.      The Portfolio Holder forLifelong Learning suggested involving the military in making provisions foryoung people that could not easily access activities, due tonot having their own transport.

iv.      The Deputy Director explained thatthe longer it is left the less savings would be made. February’s meeting may be too late as it has gone through the processes so far.

During the discussion the following point was raised:

i.        Concern was raised over the higher coststhan previously expected.

ii.       The panel was concerned thatit was difficult to support Option 3 when there was not much background toit.

iii.      Referring topoint 2.6.1 the numbers seemed low to the amount of money put into it.

iv.      The Panel questioned the value formoney and if it was too indulgent. v. The Panel asked the Officers,how many trips went ahead.

vi.      The Panel questioned the Advocacy Worker and how often this person was used.

vii.     Queried what would work as not many youths have the access toa car or able to drive, and this proves difficult in rural areas.

viii.    The panel expressed concern over needing tovote, but feel thatthey need more financial information before they approve Option 3.

ix.      The Panel feltfrustrated that they hadn’t been more involved in the past with

Youth Services and explained thatit was their oversight and not the Officers.

 x.      The panel suggested thatthree panel members could work with Officersin a Task and Finish Group

xi.      The Chair suggested thatgiven extra time on this would benefit all round.

xii.     The Panel said thatif a working group was put in place with the Portfolio Holder and Officers,then bring suggestions, recommendations and bring them back through the Portfolio Holder tothis meeting.

xiii.    The Panel suggested thatthe Chairman in conjunction with the Portfolio holder contact the leader as a concern and tosee about it being raised at Cabinet and Scrutiny.

xiv.    The Panel asked if this time it was too late tomake much impact on this that we look ata Task and Finish Group for2017/18.

xv.     Concerned that the paper came toScrutiny too late and that in future thatit be best if came earlier in its process.

xvi.    Councillor Lammie recommended that the Panel take a view on Members thoughts, with another paper like this tobe debated at a future Scrutiny meeting.

AGREED

The Panelnoted thecontents ofthe reportand feltthat therewere recommendations ofa Task andFinish Groupsto beset upalongside theYouth ServicesReport. Allof the Panel were in favour.