Issue - meetings

To consider a report of the Cabinet Member for Children, Families & Education.

The Cabinet Member for Children, Families & Education (Councillor Wendy Meikle) submitted the Youth Justice Plan for 2023/24 (copies of which had been circulated).

RESOLVED - That the Youth Justice Plan 2023/24 be approved and adopted.

To consider a report of the Cabinet Member for Children, Families & Education.

The Youth Justice Plan is a statutory annual plan that is required under Section 40 of the Crime and Disorder Act 1998. It sets out the Youth Offending Partnership’s responsibilities in producing this plan. It states that it is the duty of each local authority, after consultation with the partner agencies, to formulate and implement an annual youth justice plan .The Youth Justice Plan must be submitted to the Youth Justice Board (YJB) and Ministry of Justice (MoJ) for England and Wales, and published in accordance with the directions of the Secretary of State.

The Cabinet is requested to endorse the report and recommend the Youth Justice Plan for adoption by the Council Meeting.

Officer Contact: Jacqui Belfield Smith on Tel: 474 2876 or email: Jacqui.belfield-smith@stockport.gov.uk

The Cabinet Member for Children, Families & Education (Councillor Wendy Meikle) submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) detailing the Youth Justice Plan 2023/2024 which outlined achievements against last years’ plan, priorities for the future and opportunities/challenges for the forthcoming year.

RESOLVED – That the Youth Justice Plan 2023/2024 be endorsed and that the Council Meeting be recommended to adopt the plan.

To consider a report of the Director of Children’s Services.

The Youth Justice Plan is a statutory annual plan that is required under Section 40 of the Crime and Disorder Act 1998. The report sets out the Youth Offending Partnership’s responsibilities in producing this plan and states that it is the duty of each local authority, after consultation with the partner agencies, to formulate and implement an annual youth justice plan.

The Scrutiny Committee is requested to endorse the Youth Justice Plan for 2023/24.

Officer contact: Jacqui Belfield-Smith on 0161 474 4744 or email: jacqui.belfield-smith@stockport.gov.uk

The Director of Children’s Services submitted a report (copies of which were circulated) setting out the Youth Offending Partnership’s responsibilities in producing the plan and following consultation with the partner agencies to formulate and implement an annual youth justice plan.

The Cabinet Member for Children, Families and Education (Councillor Wendy Meikle) attended the meeting to respond to questions from the Scrutiny Committee.

The following comments were made/issues raised:-

·       Members enquired about the ‘re-offending’ numbers and the varying levels reported on pages 76 of the report. In response, it was stated that the small numbers of re-offending young people committed a large number of crimes, but it was carefully monitored by the police and tracked over the years with snapshots being taken of re-offending young people and studied.

·       Clarification was sought regarding the ages of those young people involved in the early interventions and detached youth work. In response, it was stated that youth justice involved children between the ages for 10-17 year olds, as children under 10 years of age could not be charged for a crime but may have been involved in anti-social behaviour or youth disorders. There were programmes to assist young people including ‘early years pathways’ and ‘service to schools’. Referrals were also part of the programme and interventions relating to behaviour of children and peer influences. It was also stated that all interventions were community based and aligned with detached youth work.

RESOLVED – That the report be endorsed.