Day: January 31, 2017

Conservatives on Brighton & Hove City Council secure cross-party agreement for a report seeking further information on the options for the future of the city’s Youth Services including funding to Allsorts, LGBT Youth Project.

At last week’s Full Council meeting (January 26), a petition was presented by young people calling on the Labour Administration to cancel its plans to cut up to 80% of the funding it provides for Youth Services across the City.

In addition, the Conservative Group moved an amendment calling on council officers to bring an urgent report to a Committee meeting on February 9, setting out:

♦ What services could be provided at a range of different funding levels if the full cut were not implemented

♦ What options were considered by the Administration as alternatives to the proposed cut

♦ An impact assessment of the cut and an assessment of the increased pressures on other budgets and services should the proposed cut be implemented

Group Deputy Leader, Andrew Wealls, who proposed the amendment, said: “Before we, as councillors, are asked to make this potentially life-changing decision, it is vital that we have all the relevant information before us. As yet, we have not had that, and my understanding is that the decision to decimate the Youth Service budget was made by the Labour Administration over a weekend and with next to no consultation, particularly with those it will most affect. That is simply not acceptable.”

Group Spokesman for Children, Young People & Skills, Vanessa Brown, added: “The young people that presented their petition explained very eloquently how these proposed cuts will affect them and others like them in the city. In support of them, I’m pleased that we have managed to bring some pressure to bear by securing this additional information and have hopefully kept the door open for the Labour Administration to have a rethink.”

Cllr Daniel Chapman, Chair of Children, Young People and Skills Committee, said: “I would like to reassure residents, the savings in youth services was not a proposal that was put forward lightly by the administration. This has been a tough decision that we have had to make as our funding from central government continues to dramatically reduce.

“It is important to reiterate that there will be a broad range of services for young people that will continue to be provided despite these savings proposals, and we are committed to ensuring that young people who are facing difficulties are able to receive support to help them. 

We have also continued to work on the budget with officers since the draft proposals were published, which is why I was able to announce at Council in January that our final budget proposals will include a reduction in the planned saving in youth services.

A consultation with young people is underway and will inform an understanding of the impact and inform any redesign. All councillors will be provided with a report of the key outcomes from the consultation in advance of the full budget council – which is where the final decision will be made.”