Cyflwynwyd gan:Cyng. Craig ab Iago
Decision:
Resolved:
i.
Approve the adoption of the County Youth Club model, Option 3 with the
amendments outlined in paragraph 10.1 of the report for the re-modelling of the
Youth Service
ii.
Approve the re-profiling of £24,800 of the savings from 2018/19 to
2019/20 to allow some funding for the voluntary organisations in 2018/19 as set
out in part 10.4.3 of the report.
iii.
Commit
the Cabinet Member for Housing, Leisure and Culture to report back to the
Cabinet every four months on the progress of the service
Minutes:
The report was submitted by Cllr Craig ab Iago
DECISION
Resolved:
i.
To approve the adoption of the County Youth Club model, Option 3 with
the amendments outlined in paragraph 10.1 of the report for the re-modelling of
the Youth Service
ii.
To approve the re-profiling of £24,800 of the savings from 2018/19 to
2019/20 to allow some funding for the voluntary organisations in 2018/19 as set
out in part 10.4.3 of the report.
iii.
To
commit the Cabinet Member for Housing, Leisure and Culture to report back to
the Cabinet every four months on the progress of the service
DISCUSSION
The report was submitted and it
was noted that there were many reasons for remodelling the Youth Service. It
was noted that Welsh Government expected Gwynedd Council to remodel the
service. In addition, following the Gwynedd Challenge consultation, the Full
Council resolved to cut £200,000 from the Service's budget, together with
achieving an efficiency target of £70,000. Consequently, it was noted that it
was impossible for the service to continue with the current structure.
A consultation was undertaken
with young people, who had noted that they wanted a different model. The new
structure would be pioneering and exciting which would provide the same youth
provision to every young person across the county.
It was added that there were
negative elements to the restructuring, as some of the young people wanted to
continue to attend their local youth club. It was also noted that grants to
support voluntary organisations working in the field would end in nine months'
time.
Observations arising from the
discussion
-
It was noted that engagement work had been
carried out with the young people and that over 3,000 had taken part. The
consultation emphasised that young people wanted a youth worker that was
available regularly.
-
Travelling was one of the main problems for
young people, and how it would be possible to access the service. This model
would ensure that the youth worker would go out to the young people rather than
the young people going to the worker.
-
Some areas wanted the clubs to continue in their
communities; it was noted that local engagement work was needed to see whether
the Community Councils were eager to take on the club or volunteers. It was
added that staff would be available to provide assistance and support
volunteers.
-
The timeframe was discussed and it was noted
that the provision ended annually in April and recommenced in September, and
this cycle would be emulated. The clubs would close in April and the new
provision would commence in September. This would give an opportunity for the
department to dismantle the old structure and to identify local needs and to
discuss with partners.
-
The importance of youth to the county was
stressed, and the importance of keeping the young people here. It was believed
that the new service would be able to collaborate closely with the Children and
Supporting Families Department.
-
It was noted that stopping the grants to support
the voluntary organisations would be difficult, as the two principal
organisations did a lot of good work. The members acknowledged the
organisations' good work and asked officers to work closely with the
organisations. It was noted that, once the youth service would be aware of the
type of activity that young people would want in each area, the activities
could then be commissioned.
-
It was added that the Cabinet Member for
Housing, Culture and Leisure would need to report on the progress of the
service to the Cabinet every four months.
Awdur:Catrin Thomas
Supporting documents: