Issue - meetings

That in accordance with ‘Regulation 4 of the Local Authorities (Functions and Responsibilities) (England) Regulations 2000’, the Council is asked to receive and approve the Youth Justice Plan (Report of the Director of Children and Young People’s Futures  (CS/24/20)), as recommended by the Cabinet (14 August 2024) (Minute 592 refers and replicated below). The Report is attached.

RESOLVED that the Report, submitted to the Youth Justice Board in accordance with the 30th of June 2024 deadline, be endorsed, including the positive transformation within the service which is being achieved. 

RESOLVED that the Report, submitted to the Youth Justice Board in accordance with the 30th of June 2024 deadline, be endorsed, including the positive transformation within the service which is being achieved. 

The Motion was put to the vote and declared CARRIED.

The Council considered the recommendations of the Cabinet held on 14 August 2024 relating to the adoption by the County Council of the proposed Youth Justice Plan, in accordance with ‘Regulation 4 of the Local Authorities (Functions and Responsibilities) (England) Regulations 2000’. The Plan had been circulated with the agenda.

The Leader of the Council MOVED and Councillor Leadbetter SECONDED

that the recommendations of the Cabinet, as set out at Minute 592, be approved, as outlined below;

RESOLVED that the Report, submitted to the Youth Justice Board in accordance with the 30th of June 2024 deadline, be endorsed, including the positive transformation within the service which is being achieved. 

The Motion was put to the vote and declared CARRIED.

Report of the Director of Children and Young People’s Futures  (CS/24/20) presenting the Devon Youth Justice Service Annual Youth Justice Plan Submission, attached.

The plan is attached as an appendix to the report.

RESOLVED that the Report, submitted to the Youth Justice Board in accordance with the 30th of June 2024 deadline, be endorsed, including the positive transformation within the service which is being achieved. 

(Councillors Leaver and Whitton attended in accordance with Standing Order 25(2) and spoke to this item).

The Cabinet considered the Report of the Director of Children and Young People’s Futures (CS/24/20) which presented the Devon Youth Justice Service Annual Youth Justice Plan Submission, circulated prior to the meeting in accordance with regulation 7(4) of the Local Authorities (Executive Arrangements) (Meetings and Access to Information) (England) Regulations 2012.

The Cabinet noted that the Council had a statutory duty under Section 40 of the Crime and Disorder Act 1998 to prepare and submit an annual Youth Justice Plan (YJP) to the Youth Justice Board (YJB). The Plan had been agreed by the Devon Youth Justice Partnership Board (DYJPB).

The full plan was attached as Appendix 1 to the Report, and was both a forward plan (section 7) and a review of the past year’s performance (section 4), KPI’s (section 5) as well as priorities moving forward (section 9).

The DYJPB was responsible for the strategic oversight, direction and oversight of delivery of youth justice services in Devon and was made up of statutory core members including the Local Authority, Probation, Police, Health and Education. Additional members included partners from the Office of the Police Crime Commissioner (OPCC), the Youth Magistrates Bench, Elected Councillors and the voluntary sector. It further contributed to other partnerships and strategic plans including safeguarding, youth court, Local Criminal Justice Boards and working groups, Safer Devon and Corporate Parenting.

A focus on prevention and diversion for children at risk of entering the formal system remained a priority and central aim of the year’s plan, as the challenges of a rising cohort of children becoming First Time Entrants in Devon were recognised. This was a trend the Board was committed to understanding and provide a coherent, joined up response across the

partnership and wider system and see fewer children coming into the system over the next year. Similarly, understanding and responding to exploitation risks and increasing serious violence rates remained a priority.

The service was in a period of transition and transformation, with a new leadership team, positive additions to the Partnership Board and a commitment to developing and embedding a Child First practice framework which was understood by all.

The Youth Justice Plan had been produced following consultation with stakeholders, partners, volunteers, staff and most importantly the children and their parents and/or carers who were accessing or had lived experience of being in the system.

The matter having been debated and the options and alternatives and other relevant factors (e.g. financial, sustainability and carbon impact, risk management, equality and legal considerations and alignment with the Council’s Strategic Plan) set out in the Director’s Report having been considered:

it was MOVED by Councillor Samuel, SECONDED by Councillor McInnes, and

RESOLVED that the Report, submitted to the Youth Justice Board in accordance with the 30th of June 2024 deadline, be endorsed, including the positive transformation within the service which is being achieved.