Agenda item

To receive a report from Tony Theodoulou, Executive Director People, on Empowering Youth Enfield – Children and Young People Plan.

The Council is asked to approve the plan. 

Councillor Jewell proposed and Councillor Vince seconded the report of the Executive Director People – Empowering Young Enfield – Children and Young People’s Plan.

NOTED

1.            In proposing the report Councillor Jewell (Cabinet Member for Children’s Services) highlighted the following: 

·         Thanks to officers for creating a strong robust plan and doing such a fantastic job.

·         The past year had been very difficult for many children; some had missed almost 12 months of schooling, and this would have a far-reaching impact on their futures.

·         Supporting young people, at this time, was more important than ever.

·         This plan replaced and carries on from the previous young people’s plan.

·         Young people and youth organisations had been involved in creating the plan.  It was full of many direct quotes from young people. 

·         The plan had identified 6 priorities; empowering young people, including them in decision making, providing good accessible housing, giving them the best possible health and wellbeing, keeping them safe and protected from harm and giving them an environmentally sustainable future.

·         It was an overarching document which aimed to put young people at the heart of everything the Council does. 

2.            Councillor Vince welcomed the report in seconding it.  She had been involved in children’s services for more than 27 years and seen many changes.  During this time, she had visited all the schools in the borough and had always listened to young people and made sure their views were represented.  She was pleased to support the adoption of the new policy. 

3.            Councillor Anderson on behalf of the Community First group welcomed the new plan and endorsed the comments above. 

4.            The comments of the majority administration members: 

a.    Strong support for the plan, especially from the younger councillors.

b.    The new plan would bring in many positive changes including improving skills at the national and local level and creating safe, healthy and confident communities.

c.    It would encourage stronger and more active youth participation and peer to peer co-operation.

d.    The need for the Council to support young people and to make sure that they were engaged and listened to.

e.    Concern about the financial difficulties many young people faced. 

f.     The Council wanted to work in partnership with young people and to enhance and improve the quality of their lives. 

g.    Over 900 people had been consulted. 

h.    To acknowledge that the Council was listening to young people, shared their vision and ambitions and what they could be empowered to achieve.

i.      It was important to look after young people as they were the future. Housing, education and employment were key. 

j.      Praise for the excellent role model showed by the young mayor talking about his collaboration with the police at the start of the meeting. 

5.            The comments of the majority opposition members:

a.    Support for the plan.

b.    Concern about the lack of information about the success of the previous plan and how the new plan related to what had been done before. 

c.    Concern about the lack of additional financial resources, despite these being much needed.

d.    Thanks to all the staff who work in schools.

e.    The need for high aspirations.

f.     Concern about the lack of clarity on how the plan will be delivered. 

6.            The summing up by Councillor Jewell that this had been a disastrous year for everyone, especially young people.  The last plan had been a success and he queried why the opposition had not made their concerns known earlier, during the extensive consultation on the plan.

Following the debate, the plan was approved unanimously without a vote. 

AGREED to approve and adopt the new Children and Young People’s Plan, Empowering Young Enfield 2021-25.