Agenda item

Lisa Phelan, Area Council Manager, submitted a report providing Members with an up-to-date overview of the Area Council’s current priorities.  It provided an overview of all current contracts, contract extensions, Service Level Agreements and Grant Funded Projects together with the associated timescales. 

It outlined the financial position to date for 2022-23 and gave details of the projected expenditure, including future proposals to 2023-2024 as outlined in Appendices 1 and 2 of the report. 

The report indicated that, as in previous years, a Grant Panel had met to consider the award of grants from the Youth Development Fund.  It was recommended that Great Houghton Youth Group receives Grant Funding of £8,853 to continue with weekly Youth Group sessions for both Junior and Senior Groups from 1^st January 2023 to 31^st December 2023. 

Members considered and unanimously agreed to support the recommendation.

Members’ attention was then drawn to the Youth Development Fund – Community Youth Services.  The report indicated that, over many years, this fund had supported the development of community capacity for youth service provision, particularly for under 13’s, via a myriad of projects and services across the North East Area Council. 

In order to sustain and develop community groups at grassroots level and in schools; Members had previously agreed that it was vitally important to consider supporting the capacity of the voluntary and community sector across the NEAC who deliver high quality, innovative services that offer value for money and increase community capacity through volunteering and other social return on investment. 

Members were provided with two options as set out in the report. 

Members considered and unanimously agreed to support recommended option 2a, which was to commit to the Youth Work Development Fund via a budget allocation of £35k per year for two years from 1^st April 2023 to 31^st March 2025 with the possibility of extensions of one year to 31^st March 2026, to commission youth work and activities via small grants aimed predominantly at Children and Young People under aged 13.

In agreeing this recommendation, Members also agreed that this is progressed by the Area Manager, in conjunction with a Panel made up of NEAC Elected Members, with responsibility for the procurement of these grants to the Executive Director.

The Area Council Manager then drew Members’ attention to the Youth Development Fund – Outreach/Detached Services.  Following the North East Area Council held on 22^nd September 2022, Members had asked the Area Manager to work with the Youth Development Fund Panel to consider commissioning options for a more equitable service for children and young people across the area.  The report provided further details on the work which had been undertaken. 

Members were provided with two options as set out in the report.

Members considered and unanimously agreed to support the recommended option 3a, which was for the Youth Development Fund Panel to commission a new Area Wide Children and Young Peoples Youth Work Service with a financial envelope of £45,000 per year for two years from 1^st April 2023 to 31^st March 2025 with the possibility of extensions of one year to 31^st March 2026.

In agreeing this recommendation, Members agreed this is progressed by the Area Manager, in conjunction with a Panel made up of NEAC Elected Members, with delegated responsibility for the procurement of these grants to the Executive Director.

At this point in the meeting, Councillor Green took the Chair due to a declaration of non-pecuniary interest from Councillor Hayward in the following item.  Councillor Hayward left the meeting and was not involved in any discussions thereon. 

The Area Council Manager informed Members that the North East Community Traineeship Programme was a contract currently held by Barnsley Community Build (BCB).  As outlined in the report and earlier presentation, the contract includes a trainee programme as well as improving local environments and community engagement. 

Members noted that the current BCB contract had commenced in April 2021 and would expire on 31^st March 2023.  There was provision for a 12-month extension to take the contract to 31^st March 2024.  Members were provided with two options as set out in the report.

Members considered and agreed to support recommended option 4a, which was for BCB to continue the contract for 1 more year from the 1^st April 2023 to 31^st March 2024 at a cost of £222,988.33.

At this point in the meeting, Councillor Hayward resumed as Chair. 

RESOLVED:

i)           That the current priorities and overview of all current contracts, contract extensions, Service Level Agreements and Grant fund projects, together with the associated timescales, be noted. 

ii)          That the financial position to date for 2022-23 and the projected expenditure, including future proposals to 2023-24 as outlined in Appendices 1 and 2 of the report be noted. 

iii)         That the recommendation from the Youth Development Fund Panel to fund the following project be approved:

·     Great Houghton Youth Group Grant Funding of £8,853.00 from 1^st January 2023 to 31^st December 2023.

iv)        That the recommendation to commit to the Youth Work Development Fund via a budget allocation of £35k per year for two years from 1^st April 2023 to 31^st March 2025 with the possibility of extensions of one year to 31^st March 2026 to commission youth work and activities via small grants aimed predominantly at Children and Young People under aged 13 be approved, and

Request and agree that this is progressed by the Area Manager, in conjunction with a Panel made up of NEAC Elected Members, with delegated responsibility for the procurement of these grants to the Executive Director.

v)          That the recommendation for the Youth Development Fund Panel to commission a new Area Wide Children and Young Peoples Youth Work Service with a financial envelope of £45,000 per year for two years from 1^st April 2023 to 31^st March 2025 with the possibility of extensions of one year to 31^st March 2026 be approved, and

Request and agree that this is progressed by the Area Manager, in conjunction with a Panel made up of NEAC Elected Members, with delegated responsibility for the procurement of these grants to the Executive Director.

vi)        That the recommendation for Barnsley Community Build (BCB) to continue the contract for 1 more year from 1^st April 2023 to 31^st March 2024 at a cost of £222,988.33 be approved.