To review the draft Youth Justice Plan 2019/20 at appendix a, and agree for the plan to be considered by full council.

The Youth Justice Plan (the plan) forms part of the council’s budget and policy framework and is reserved to full council to approve.

The plan is prepared on an annual basis on behalf of Herefordshire, Shropshire, Telford and Wrekin and Worcestershire councils.  The basic plan preparation is undertaken by the West Mercia Youth Justice Service according to the deadlines and content requirements set by the Youth Justice Board for England and Wales (YJB).

The plan sets out how youth justice services across West Mercia are structured and resourced and identifies key actions to address identified risks to service delivery and improvement.

Under section 40 of the Crime and Disorder Act 1998, each council has a duty to produce a plan setting out how youth justice services in their area are provided and funded and how the youth offending service for the area is funded and composed, the plan is submitted to the YJB.

The plan for 2019/20 was prepared in May 2019 in line with guidance issued by the YJB. The draft plan was agreed by the West Mercia Youth Justice Service Management Board on 24^th May 2019.

That:

The Youth Justice Plan 2019/20 (appendix a) be recommended for approval by full council.

1.         There are no alternative recommendations because it is a function of the cabinet to make reports or recommendations to the executive on matters within the budget and policy framework of the council.

2.         The Youth Justice Plan is required to be produced on an annual basis and the draft has been approved by West Mercia Youth Justice Service management board; one alternative option would be to amend the contents of the plan prior to approval being sought by full council, however the practical implications of this would be that any amendments would need to be approved by the management board, as required by the Youth Justice Plan Guidance issued on behalf of the secretary of State by the Youth justice Board for England and Wales, and by the Councils of the three other Local Authorities in West Mercia. 

3.         The Youth Justice Plan be recommended to full council for approval but with recommendations for the management board to consider in preparing the Youth Justice Plan for 2020/21.

4.         In addition the council could choose not to endorse the adoption of the youth justice plan 2019/2020; however, this is not recommended as it is a statutory requirement for the plan to be approved by full council; therefore there are no practical alternative options.