To recommend the Youth Justice Plan 2017/18 for approval by full Council (appendix a).

The Youth Justice Plan (the plan) forms part of the council’s budget and policy framework and is

therefore 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

15

AGENDA ITEM 6

Further information on the subject of this report is available from

Keith Barham, head of service West Mercia Youth Justice Service (YJS) 01905 732200 or

Chris Baird, interim director for children’s wellbeing Tel: 01432 260264or cbaird@herefordshire.gov.uk

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 2017/18 was prepared in May 2017 in line with the guidance issued by the YJB. A

copy is appended.

That:

(a) the Youth Justice Plan (at appendix A) is recommended to full Council for approval.

The Youth Justice Plan is required to be produced on an annual basis and has been

approved by the 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, this is not recommended as any amendments would also require approval from the WMYJS management board and the councils of the other West Mercia local authorities.

In addition the council could choose not to endorse the adoption of the youth justice plan 2017/18; 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.