Agenda item

The Senior Head of Service reported on the content of a paper which summarised the need for organisational change arising from the Government Green Paper, Youth Matters and from the implications of the break up of the Connexions South Yorkshire Partnership.

The paper also set out proposed revisions to the existing Young People’s Services as a response to the need for change.

The paper submitted set out :-

(a) the main proposals of the Green Paper including Children’s Trust arrangements;

(b) implications of the proposals for Connexions and future funding/managing of Connexions;

(c) the statutory duties on local authorities to provide services for young people, involving the new arrangements needed for the delivery of Connexions Services and the need to integrate these services more fully with other services to young people in line with the green paper proposals;

(d) the consultation process to consider the various options on how to achieve the integration process;

(e) development of a “Youth Offer” to young people using the findings of the consultation;

(f) proposed interim management arrangements and organisational structure;

(g) the benefits of an integrated Connexions and Youth Services and core functions of the new arrangements;

(h) governance arrangements.

The paper submitted also set out the funding situation, and risks/uncertainties involved.

Comments on the contents of the paper made reference to :-

-          involvement of Scrutiny in the governance arrangements

-          implications for existing staff as a result of termination of the current Connexions Deed

-          Looked After Children and the need to ensure that the new proposals include appropriate and necessary support for them

-          the need to include scrutiny in the timetable of key dates for the Transition Plan

-          with regard to the base budget for Young People’s Services, provision needs to be clarified along with the external monies strategy and the targeting of needs

-          progressing of the items at status red in the Transition Plan

-          interaction of the various partners and agencies to provide effective services

Resolved:- (1) That exemption from the tendering process until September 2007 for the Connexions contracts, under Paragraph 35 Chapter 1 Part IV Contract Standing Orders, be approved.

(2) That the development of a “Youth Offer” for Rotherham be in accordance with Green Paper proposals.

(3) That the YPS base budget is committed to the provision of universal services for all young people across RMBC and that external monies are targeted according to greatest need.

(4) That a revision to the management of existing services on an interim basis to include the current Young People’s Services and the management of the Connexions contracts be noted, these integrated services to be known as Young People’s Services.

(5) That the interim management and organisational structure required for the revised arrangements as set out in Appendix 1 of the report be approved.

(6) That the current version of the Connexions Transition Plan that has been approved by Government Office set out in Appendix 2 of the report be noted.

(7) That an update on progressing the arrangements be submitted to a future meeting.