Issue - meetings

The Board considered a report of the Strategic Director, People and Economy, which advised Members of developments in the delivery of the plan for Youth Justice Services.

The Board was advised that the 1998 Crime and Disorder Act required each local authority to establish a multi-agency partnership to deliver Youth Justice Services. The current partnership was formed in 2012, following an extensive scoping exercise assisted by the Youth Justice Board for England and Wales. It was reported that the original plan included Cheshire East services, who subsequently adopted an alternate strategy, leaving Cheshire West, Halton and Warrington (CWHWYOS) to establish their own partnership.

It was reported that in May 2015, the Cheshire Police and Crime Commissioner requested the two Youth Offending Services (YOS) in Cheshire to consider proposals for a single YOS in order to improve consistency and resilience to potential future changes in both the criminal justice systems and Councils. Both YOS Boards had agreed the principle of amalgamation in line with the scoping exercise carried out in 2010-12, with formal agreement expected in March 2016.

Reason(s) for Decision

To formally validate the decision by the current CWHWYOS partnership to extend its agreement to include Cheshire East.

Alternative Options Considered and Rejected

To remain as two separate Youth Offending Services.

Implementation Date

1 April 2016 for formal amalgamation of the two YOS Management Boards who would then oversee a review of the service with an action plan being identified by 1 October 2016 and implemented by 31 March 2017, following any necessary consultations with partners, stakeholders and staff.

RESOLVED: That the decision of the Cheshire West, Halton and Warrington Youth Offending Service (CWHWYOS) to extend the partnership to include Cheshire East Youth Offending Service, be approved.