Agenda item

This report summarises the progress towards establishing an integrated service for young people in York, following the decision in principle at the Executive meeting on 27 February 2007 to adopt a directly-managed model when responsibility for the Connexions service transfers to Local Authorities in April 2008.

RESOLVED: (i)         That the detailed work undertaken to plan for the new integrated service for young people in York since the decision in principle to bring the Connexions service in-house, including wide consultation with stakeholders, staff and young people and intensive negotiations with the current service provider, be noted.

REASON:      To ensure that the Council discharges its statutory obligations in the most efficient and effective manner, consistent with the vision of a professional, holistic, locality-based service for young people.

                        (ii)        That the financial and other risks that exist, particularly around the TUPE matters that are still a matter of dispute with the current provider, the actions taken to minimise such risks, the contingency sums laid aside within the Connexions budget and also the Corporate contingency budget, be noted.

REASON:      To accept that, while these risks cannot be eliminated altogether, Officers’ negotiations and preparations have brought them within acceptable levels.

                        (iii)       That the decision to bring the Connexions service in-house from 1 April 2008 be confirmed, and that the necessary steps be taken to effect a smooth transfer of staff and functions from that date.

REASON:      To initiate the final steps needed to effect the transfer, including confirmation to the staff affected and the drawing up of the relevant transfer documentation.

                        (iv)       That the following issues, which have been considered in more detail by the Executive Members for Children’s Services, be noted:

a)     The proposed structure for the new service, set out in Annex B to the report.

b)     The IT and property implications, the proposed upgrades to accommodation at Kingswater, Fulford and Moor Lane and the one-off costs set out in Annex A that have been submitted to the Executive Member for approval, subject to reasonable Officer discretion over the detailed work schedules and the priorities within them.

c)      Three minor but significant contracts with third parties that are currently held by Connexions (described in detail in Annex D), to be considered as temporarily exempt from the authority’s financial regulations and rolled over for a further year pending a fuller impact assessment.

REASON:      To appreciate that these decisions have been taken to enable new staff to be allocated to a suitable function and location, allow senior posts to be graded and filled in accordance with HR policies and ensure continuity of service with minimum risk.

Members considered a report which summarised progress made towards establishing an integrated service for young people in York, following the Executive’s in-principle decision, on 27 February 2007, to adopted a directly-managed model when responsibility for the Connexions service transferred to local authorities in April 2008.

A similar report had been considered on 21 January 2008 at the meeting of the Executive Members for Children’s Services and Advisory Panel.  The Executive Member for Youth and Social Inclusion had agreed the recommendations set out in that report, including those to:

• Approve the actions and remit described in Annex B to the report.
• Bring the Connexions service in-house from 1 April 2008 and that the necessary steps be taken to effect a smooth transfer of staff and functions from that date.
• Approve the proposed structure for the new service, as set out in Annex B.
• Approve in principle the expenditure of the one-off costs set out in Annex A, subject to reasonable Officer discretion over the detailed works schedules and the priorities within them.
• Agree that three minor but significant contracts with third parties that are currently held by Connexions (described in Annex D) be rolled over for a further year pending a fuller impact assessment.

It was noted that the report had been brought to Executive mainly to confirm that all necessary measures had been taken to achieve a smooth transfer and that the risks were being properly managed.  Details of the actions being taken to manage financial and service risks were set out in paragraphs 31 to 33. 

Having noted the decisions of the Executive Member and the comments of the Shadow Executive on this item it was

RESOLVED: (i)         That the detailed work undertaken to plan for the new integrated service for young people in York since the decision in principle to bring the Connexions service in-house, including wide consultation with stakeholders, staff and young people and intensive negotiations with the current service provider, be noted.

REASON:      To ensure that the Council discharges its statutory obligations in the most efficient and effective manner, consistent with the vision of a professional, holistic, locality-based service for young people.

                        (ii)        That the financial and other risks that exist, particularly around the TUPE matters that are still a matter of dispute with the current provider, the actions taken to minimise such risks, the contingency sums laid aside within the Connexions budget and also the Corporate contingency budget, be noted.

REASON:      To accept that, while these risks cannot be eliminated altogether, Officers’ negotiations and preparations have brought them within acceptable levels.

                        (iii)       That the decision to bring the Connexions service in-house from 1 April 2008 be confirmed, and that the necessary steps be taken to effect a smooth transfer of staff and functions from that date.¹

REASON:      To initiate the final steps needed to effect the transfer, including confirmation to the staff affected and the drawing up of the relevant transfer documentation.

                        (iv)       That the following issues, which have been considered in more detail by the Executive Members for Children’s Services, be noted:

a)     The proposed structure for the new service, set out in Annex B to the report.

b)     The IT and property implications, the proposed upgrades to accommodation at Kingswater, Fulford and Moor Lane and the one-off costs set out in Annex A that have been submitted to the Executive Member for approval, subject to reasonable Officer discretion over the detailed work schedules and the priorities within them.

c)      Three minor but significant contracts with third parties that are currently held by Connexions (described in detail in Annex D), to be considered as temporarily exempt from the authority’s financial regulations and rolled over for a further year pending a fuller impact assessment.

REASON:      To appreciate that these decisions have been taken to enable new staff to be allocated to a suitable function and location, allow senior posts to be graded and filled in accordance with HR policies and ensure continuity of service with minimum risk.