Minutes:
The Head of Youth Services Devon County Council explained the background to the re-organisation of the County Council’s youth service made in response to budget cuts and to the establishment of eight youth centres across Devon including one for Exeter at the 100 Club Countess Wear. The re-organisation would see the creation of a separate staff mutual operating out of the 100 Club with 1 October 2016 identified as the date for a full transfer. He explained the role of remaining staff, the 100 Club now providing five youth sessions a week, three open access, one for LGBT and one for those in care/adoption. It was also integrating young people from other centres.
The following updates were provided:-
Beacon - Knight Club
The transfer had been very successful with additional activities launched even though a number of youngsters were challenging. The youth workers worked closely with the 100 Club in sharing policies, training and advice.
Phoenix Club
Councillor Hannan reported on progress with the Youth Centre which required the agreement of the Wonford Community and Learning Centre who were keen to extend the existing community centre as part of the agreement to provide youth services and also welcomed opportunities to generate income through increased activity. The draft agreement was not dissimilar to that considered by the YMCA who had also expressed an interest in operating the centre initially, but fine tuning in respect of the lease arrangements had been delayed.
Discussions between the County Solicitor and the Wonford Community and Learning Centre Solicitor were on-going to clarify terms and conditions of the lease and Councillor Hart confirmed that he had asked for an early resolution of the legal issues. It was noted that one of the youth workers made redundant had offered to assist at the Phoenix.
West Side
There had been lengthy discussions with Exeter YMCA about the future of the former Devon Youth Services facility at Buddle Lane (Westside) but the position of the YMCA remained unclear regarding their commitment to providing youth provision at the centre. An allocation of £57,000 had been reserved from the Invest in Devon Funds for capital works, the main element being the replacement of the roof of this large building. NPS had undertaken minor repairs, the contactor utilised having estimated the cost of roof replacement to be in the region of £45,000. The YMCA had received a quote of £99,000.
The Community Involvement and Inclusion Officer explained that the Board monies earmarked for Westside were yet to be released.
The Board asked for clarification on the YMCA’ s position. An urgent meeting was required to confirm their commitment to assuming responsibility for the building, associated repairs and refurbishment as well as youth provision in the area.
Possible alternative uses of the site were briefly discussed.
General
With regard to the overall delivery of youth services, the Board had previously called for the development of a youth strategy for Exeter in order to ensure as strong a youth service as possible for the City, but this had not been progressed. The Head of Youth Service advised that a previous move to develop a comprehensive approach to youth issues had stalled due to the lack of engagement of other agencies. He believed that such a strategy should embrace a number of issues – housing, health, education, leisure activities - and that, as such, the full involvement of a number of parties was essential. He was prepared to commit youth service resources to this initiative and hoped that others would also contribute. He was clear that the County Council shouldn’t necessarily be the lead agency and that any such strategy may be more objective if it were not one of the key statutory interested parties. He suggested that the Exeter Community Forum or another independent group could play a leading and facilitation role.
RESOLVED that the City Council Community Involvement and Inclusion Officer and the County Council Partnership and Policy Development Officer meet as soon as possible with Peter Stephenson, the Chief Executive of the YMCA, and with local Members as appropriate, to seek clear confirmation from the YMCA of its continued commitment to both the occupation of the building and the delivery of youth work in the area, the YMCA to be set a deadline for their response. Failing any such commitment, consideration would need to be given to an alternative solution for the facility.