Minutes:
The following updates were provided on progress with the continuation of youth service provision in the City:-
Beacon - Knight Club (Councillor Morse)
The temporary licence had been replaced with a long lease now signed by ISCA. Progress was very positive with a youth worker appointed and the facility being used by a number of groups, with additional activities launched such as Age Concern Over 55 ‘s “youth club”. Work had commenced on the re-decoration of the building. Although highly visible in the community, targeted outreach work was yet to be developed.
Phoenix Club (Councillor Hannan)
Discussions between the County Solicitor and the Phoenix Solicitor were on-going to clarify terms and conditions of the lease. In order to function as a multi-purpose centre, capital works would be required and a bid to Invest in Devon was expected. As it was not running as a youth centre, Councillor Hannam had used his locality budget to fund a travel subsidy to get young people who would have previously visited the Phoenix Centre for youth club sessions to make use of the 100 Club.
The 100 Club Countess Wear was serving as a youth hub for the whole of Exeter and as an administrative centre for the Youth Service both of which, it was suggested, could be impinging on local community use. Further, there was no clear evidence that use was being made of the 100 Club as a City wide facility.
West Side (Councillors Hill and Hannaford)
There had been lengthy discussions with Exeter YMCA about the future of the former Devon Youth Services youth facility at Buddle Lane (Westside), Councillor Hill having committed his locality budget to the YMCA. Local Members and the County Council had provided access to significant funds in an attempt to make the facility operational and viable, including replacement of the roof. However, due to a substantial increase in the estimated cost of that work, - the initial estimate having increased by over £40,000 to over £90,000 - the funds available were insufficient to make the centre a sustainable proposition for the YMCA.
The Board was not in a position to provide any more funding but remained committed to examining how it would be possible to support youth provision in this area through other means. Concern remained that, until West Side was up and running, there was an urgent need for outreach youth work in the St. Thomas Area and this issue would be raised by local Members at the Devon County Council meeting on 1 October and there would be further discussions between the two local authorities and partners. It was vital that the future use of the building should, if possible, benefit the local community in some way.
General
Members discussed the overall position of youth services in the City which had suffered from the recent County Council cuts across Devon and, as far as Exeter was concerned, appeared to be worsening. There were great concerns that there could be an increase in anti social behaviour as youth work was considered to be a key preventative measure. The position was exacerbated by the delay in the creation of a staff mutual for County youth workers. The Board had previously requested the County Council to establish two youth hubs at Westside and the Phoenix and had also called for a working group to be set up to develop a youth strategy for Exeter – this had not been progressed.
RESOLVED that:-
(1) the County Council be asked by local Councillors at its meeting on 1 October to address the above concerns; and
(2) Councillors Edwards and Westlake seek an urgent meeting with Councillor Hart, Leader of Devon County Council, to discuss the deteriorating position of youth provision in the City.