Youth Provision Task Group
Minutes:
The Chairman of the Youth Provision Task Group provided an update on the work of the Task Group to date and informed Members that it had held eight meetings since the last Overview and Scrutiny Board meeting.
The Task Group had a very informative meeting with Andy Woods, the Artistic Director of the Artrix and was meeting with the Education & Outreach Co-ordinator from the Artrix as a consequence of that visit, on 27th February.
The Group had visited the Ryland Centre and received a tour, followed by an interview with the Chief Executive and the Operations Manager from Sandwell Leisure Trust who had recently taken over the running of the Centre.
A further meeting with the Head of Leisure and Cultural Services had also taken place, together with the Sports Development Manager and the Operations Manager, Youth Services, Worcestershire County Council.
The Task Group had also held 3 very useful site visits to the Trunk, the Lounge in Alvechurch and Woodrush Youth Centre. The Woodrush visit was of particular interest as representatives from the Youth Management Team and Youth Committee were present and spoke at length to Members about the work of the youth centre. A further 4 visits had been arranged, which included further site visits.
As a response to the press release the task group have been contacted by a group of sixth form students from Haybridge High School and they would be attending a meeting in March to give a presentation on a review they had carried out into students’ views on youth facilities.
All Councillors had been asked to provide the Task Group with details of activities for young people that they were aware of within their Wards – to date the information from 5 wards remained outstanding. This information would be considered at the group’s meeting on 27th February.
The Chairman of the Task Group informed Members that following discussions with the Democratic Services Manager it was agreed that the final report of the Task Group should be deferred until the first meeting of the Board in the new municipal year.