Agenda and minutes

There were no Declarations of Interest to record. 

The minutes of the previous meeting of the Cabinet Member for Communities and Cohesion held on 25^th March, 2013, were considered. 

Resolved: -  That the minutes of the previous meeting of the Cabinet Member for Communities and Cohesion be agreed as an accurate record for signature. 

·         Head of the Integrated Youth Support Service to provide a verbal update. 

The Head of the Integrated Youth Support Service (Schools and Lifelong Learning, Children and Young People’s Services) provided an update in relation to the creation of the Rotherham Integrated Youth Support Service. 

The project was progressing well against the Project Implementation document and the agreed timeline. 

The following areas were discussed: -

·         The Services had co-located into the Eric Manns Building and were operating well from the joint base;

·         Staff and stakeholder consultation had been completed and comments received had been analysed and any necessary structure changes had been made;

·         Where job matches had not taken place, staff would be invited to express an interest in up to three available posts within the Service’s structure;

·         Staff would be given the opportunity to access support in relation to applying for the posts on the structure;

·         Work was on-going to ensure that the existing relationships with young people and partner organisations would be maintained throughout the transition period into the Integrated Youth Support Service;

·         Linkages between the Integrated Youth Support Service, other Council departments and partner organisations were being maintained and meetings were on-going with them to ensure they were kept up-to-date with the progress of the Integrated Service;

·         The Integrated Youth Support Service was developing links with all sectors to secure the best outcomes and services for all of Rotherham’s young people.

Resolved: - (1)  That the information shared be noted.

(2)  That a further report in relation to the development of Rotherham’s Integrated Youth Support Service be presented to the next meeting of the Cabinet Member for Communities and Cohesion. 

·         Strategic Commissioning Manager, Commissioning, Policy and Performance, Resources Directorate, to report. 

Consideration was given to the report presented by the Operational Commissioner (Commissioning, Policy and Performance, Resources Directorate), that requested an exemption from Standing Order 48.1 (requirement to invite between 3 and 6 external quotations for contracts costing £50,000 and above) in relation to the contract that the Rotherham Youth Service operated for restorative justice support.  The existing contract was with REMEDI, who worked with young offenders to liaise with victims of crime on the application of restorative justice.

Minute No. D8 (Restorative Justice – waiving of Standing Orders) of the meeting of the Cabinet Member for Children, Young People and Families’ Services) held on 4^th July, 2012, gave permission for the contract to be extended to 31^st March, 2013, to allow a sub-regional commissioning process to be undertaken. 

Permission was now requested to extend the contract length by six-months to 30^th September, 2013, to allow the sub-regional tendering process to be completed.  This was being led by Sheffield City Council and related to four aspects.  Rotherham would tender for the areas of reparation, victim support and the co-ordination of referral order panels. 

It was expected that the joint commissioning approach would realise a 20% saving.  It was noted that a budget of £24,549 had been identified to cover the costs of provision for the co-ordination of referral order panels.

Resolved:-  (1)  That an exemption from Standing Order 48.1 (requirement to invite between 3 and 6 external quotations for contracts costing £50,000 and above) be approved and the existing contract with REMEDI for the provision of restorative justice support be extended for an additional six-month period to 30^th September, 2013. 

(2)  That a further report be presented to the Cabinet Member for Communities and Cohesion in relation to the outcomes of the sub-regional commissioning process outlining the content of Rotherham’s contract and the services that would be provided through the contract. 

·         Monday 24^th June, 2013, to start at 12.00 noon in the Rotherham Town Hall. 

Resolved: -  That the next meeting of the Cabinet Member for Communities and Cohesion take place on Monday 24^th June, 2013, to start at 12.00 noon in the Rotherham Town Hall.