Agenda item

Report of the Cabinet Member for Cabinet Member for Young People and Culture.

This report provides the Committee with an update relating to the portfolio of the Cabinet Member for Young People and Culture.

Consideration was given to the update paper of the Cabinet Member for Young People and Culture.

The paper and verbal summary from the Cabinet Member gave updates in the following areas: Camden’s Youth Justice service - The Youth Justice Plan and priorities for 2023 – 2025; update on children looked after and disproportionality action plans; Youth Safety Steering Group; Detached Team; The London Borough Apprenticeship Awards; and the new MET for London community event - 5 September 2023.

The Chair thanked the Cabinet Member for the update and invited questions and comments from the Committee. In addition to the paper, the following was discussed:

-       In relation to the MET for London Turnaround Plan, it was confirmed the London Plan would come before the MET Camden specific plan. One community crime fighting pledge was to ‘recruit additional Police Community Support officers (PCSO’s) and put them in local neighbourhoods to deliver the priorities for London’ and a Member asked if it was possible to ask the MET to hire more people from Camden who understood the area. In response, it was stated that a PCSO role was not always seen as a desirable job, and it was hard to find local people. This issue had been raised with the MET and for issue that to be considered in the local workshops and final report.

-       The Cabinet Member stated that Black History season was taking place until 12 December and there was a huge listing of mostly free events. The season hosted many challenging pieces of work and events were being held many spaces around the borough.

-       In relation to the middle east conflict, a Co-opted Member stated that the Israel-Gaza war had been immensely triggering for some refugee families and was sparking re-lived trauma. They noted specifically that Islamophobia was on the rise. The Co-opted Member asked what the Council was doing to support those families and young people of those with backgrounds linked to the conflict and if there were any discussions on the topic in the Youth Charter. They also noted that Prevent speaking to families that could be triggering of trauma. In response, it was stated that the last Youth Charter was in September before the conflict began, but they were aiming for discussions. There were workshops with young people focussing on how the Police interacted with them. Camden was focussing on how to support communities during the middle east war and senior leaders were visiting residents and communities.  The aim was for young people to feel safe and feel confident to discuss issues safely and for schools to be safe.

-       In relation to Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) health outcomes, a Member noted that BAME people were underrepresented in seeking and accessing health and wellbeing services. Some health professionals did not recognise that trauma presented differently on BAME people, who might have experienced traumatic events in their home country, and additionally may feel the need to conceal their trauma in the UK. GPs should be trained to recognise the signs and not contribute to any attitudes that it is the fault of BAME people for not seeking help sooner. Those groups were also more likely to be experienced poverty which also greatly contributed to worse health outcomes. In addition, a Co-opted Member stated that those factors also contributed to pupil absenteeism, which required provision of holistic support and a trauma informed approach. The Cabinet Member agreed that trauma informed work was an approach that recognised more complex life journeys and experiences.

-       In relation to youth safety, a Member asked why the ‘keeping young people safe’ risk on the Council’s risk register had been de-escalated. In response, it was confirmed that de-escalation meant that good impact and progress had been made, where the severity and frequency of instances occurring in Camden since the youth safety initiatives were put into place had significantly deceased, therefore the risk had decreased on the scale of corporate urgency. The Council was still committed to youth safety, and it remained on the register. Officer confirmed they would provide further information on why the ‘keeping young people safe’ risk on the Principal Risk Report 2023, considered by the Audit and Corporate Governance Committee on 8 November 2023, had been de-escalated from principal risk status.

Action By – Executive Director Children & Learning

The Committee noted the update.