Issue - meetings

This report presents the Brent Youth Justice Plan 2023/24, which includes an overview of local youth justice progress, priorities and arrangements for monitoring performance.  Following its submission to the Youth Justice Board, Cabinet is now being asked to approve the Plan for final sign off by Council on 18 September 2023.

Cabinet RESOLVED to approve the Brent Youth Justice Plan 2023-24 for formal sign off and adoption by Full Council on 18 September 2023.

As a result of Councillor Grahl (Cabinet Member for Children, Young People and Schools) having submitted her apologies for absence Councillor Muhammed Butt (Leader of the Council) introduced a report presenting the Brent Youth Justice Plan 2023/24.  In considering the report Cabinet noted that the Youth Justice Plan included an overview of local youth justice progress and priorities along with the arrangements for monitoring performance, with the Plan (in accordance with statutory requirements) having been submitted to the Youth Justice Board for review and approval prior to its formal consideration by Cabinet in advance of its recommended adoption by Full Council.

In recognising the commitment and achievements of the Youth Justice Service and the wider partnership work being undertaken to support children and young people who were at risk of or had entered the youth justice system, members noted the overall performance achieved by the service particularly in respect of the reduction in number of young people entering the criminal justice system for the first time and low numbers of young people in custody.  The strong performance identified was attributed to the Council’s focus on prevention and engagement with children and young people, with members welcoming the positive feedback provided through young people and their parents and carers and supporting the importance identified in maintaining funding contributions towards the Youth Justice Service partnership budget.

Whilst recognising the positive work being undertaken, members in supporting the Plan also highlighted the need to maintain a focus on the increased risks identified in relation to serious youth violence, drug related offences and criminal exploitation and gang activity following the pandemic along with the ongoing work to reduce the disproportionate representation of young black people in the criminal justice system.

In thanking all those working within the Youth Justice Service for their efforts, diligence and innovation in supporting young people Cabinet RESOLVED to approve the Brent Youth Justice Plan 2023/24 to proceed to Full Council on 18 September 2023 for formal sign off and adoption.