Decision details

The report considers options for supporting youth services in the Borough in light of Hampshire County Council’s proposed reduction in funding for this service in 2016 and a proposal to dissolve the current Youth Council arrangements and introduce a new method of engaging with young people.

In early 2015 Hampshire County Council announced the intention to significantly reduce its budget for the provision of youth services. This decision is still under review but has prompted the Council to consider the current youth service provision in the Borough and how support for the service can be provided going forward.

The proposed cuts will result in a dramatic reduction in the current level of youth service provision in Fareham. The indication is that in future the County Council is only likely to provide funding to deliver youth support services for vulnerable young people.

Bridging the funding gap in order to maintain the current level of service is not a viable proposition for this Council. However, the Council recognises the need for an open access youth service in the Borough. Consultation with young people and local agencies has highlighted both concerns and potential consequences resulting from a dramatic reduction in the current level of service.

The report provides options for the future provision of open access youth services in the Borough. This includes the potential for funding this type of service which can be achieved without increasing the Council’s revenue budget.

The Fareham Youth Council has been in existence for some 12 years and has provided the opportunity for young people to have their say about the services the Council provides.  The proposal is to dissolve the current Youth Council and establish ‘Y-CATs’, a new arrangement for engaging with young people. This will involve use of social media and opportunities to meet with the Executive Leader to ensure Fareham’s young people are able to make their voice heard.

RESOLVED that the Executive approves:

(a)          the establishment of a ‘Youth Activities Fund’ to support open access youth services in Fareham Borough Council, as detailed in option 2 paragraph 17; subject to confirmation of Hampshire County Council’s decision on future funding for youth services in Fareham;

(b)          that the estimated £30,000 saving resulting from the reorganisation of the Leisure & Community staff restructure be allocated to the Youth Activities Fund;

(c)          a review of the current Community Fund Grant scheme to consider local groups and  organisations to submit one off bids for running costs;

(d)          that further consideration is given to the opportunity to provide a Mobile Youth Resource, as detailed in option 4 at paragraph 17 of the report, and that a report on this opportunity is presented to a future meeting of the Executive; and

(e)          that the current arrangements for the Youth Council are dissolved and replaced with the new ‘Y-CAT’ arrangements as the new way of engaging with young people in the Borough of Fareham