Issue - meetings

            The Board considered a report of the Strategic Director – Children and Young People regarding the transition of Connexions funding and responsibilities to Local Authorities from April 2008. Local Authorities were expected to lead a genuinely collaborative approach and develop new arrangements for delivering Information, Advice and Guidance (IAG) that clearly met the needs of Young People in the area. These arrangements would be planned and implemented in a way that not only supported the delivery of the 14-19 learning entitlement but were integrated into a wider set of youth support services for teenagers and their parents.

            The Local Authority would be responsible for ensuring the implementation of the IAG national quality standards across all work with young people, including in schools and colleges. Further obligations, arising from the Education and Skills Bill to be introduced into Parliament in the autumn, were also outlined for consideration.

It was advised that a Transition Steering Group had been established with the agreement of the City Region Leaders group to review existing arrangements and develop future arrangements for the delivery and commissioning of the Connexions Service across Merseyside. A number of actions and intended outcomes from the Steering Group were outlined for the Board’s consideration. Financial implications, including the Council’s maximum potential liability, were also outlined.

Reason(s) for Decision

            Arrangements for the future delivery of services to young people would effect all young people aged 13 to 19 in the Borough. It would also include the targeting of specialist services to vulnerable young people to enable them to access their universal entitlement.

Alternative Options Considered and Rejected

            None.

Implementation Date

            1^st April 2008.

            RESOLVED: That agreement be given in principle to:

(1)            commission Greater Merseyside Connexions Partnership, as a strategic and delivery partner in the Children and Young People’s Partnership, to deliver Connexions services to all 13 –19 year olds for the period from April 2008 to March 2011, initially;

(2)            collaborate with partner Local Authorities in the City Region to jointly commission shared services that underpin and provide additional value to local Connexions services for the same period, initially;

(3)       review the Local Authority’s position as a member of Greater Merseyside Connexions Partnership Limited to ensure that accountability to the Local Authority is maintained avoiding conflicts of interest (NB Greater Merseyside Connexions Partnership Board is reviewing its structure and Governance in view of the impending changes);

(4)            consider, where appropriate, commissioning other services from Greater Merseyside Connexions Partnership or other providers to meet the needs of young people as identified in local plans;

(5)            confirm that the grant allocation for Connexions is passported to Greater Merseyside Connexions Partnership for the period 2008-2011 in line with a specified service requirement, and that the Local Authority will seek agreement from its Strategic Partnership to this undertaking; and

(6)       act as Guarantor to the Merseyside Pension Fund in respect of a share, based on population, of the Greater Merseyside Connexions Partnership Limited.