This Select Committee opposes the direction of travel being proposed for the future of the youth service in West Sussex in all three options presented to us. The Committee does not believe these proposals are evidenced by the consultation results.

The Committee believes that the proposal to cut £2m from the Service underpinning each option, will cause disproportionately additional expenditure throughout the County in other Departments. Proposals to abolish voluntary engagement through management committees and curtail essential services to young people and cut professional youth worker posts will irreparably damage community engagement and participation.

The Committee notes the Audit Commission’s findings that for ever £1 spent on local authority youth services £8 of additional value through volunteering is generated. The committee notes that professional youth workers are trained to fund raise, create voluntary sector partnerships and support volunteering in the community. The Committee further notes the great cost effectiveness of youth work and its unique voluntary relationship with young people.

The Committee does not believe that the West Sussex Council for Voluntary Youth Services and District councils have the infrastructure and capacity, nor the experience to run high quality youth work provision.

The Committee is deeply proud of the West Sussex Youth Service and its staff, and the volunteers who work with them. We note the commendations that it has received by Ofsted as being of excellent value for money and the high standards it has achieved through its professional management and staffing.

The Committee remains unconvinced that the proposals and the consultation have been in accordance with the requirements of the Education and Inspections Act and the UN Conventions on the rights of children and young people.

The Committee resolves therefore to call on the full Council to restore the £2m proposed cut to the Youth Service. The Committee further resolves to make representation the Government to secure local authority Youth Service funding more effectively.