Agenda item

To consider the report of the Deputy Town Clerk.

The committee received and considered the report of the Deputy Town Clerk concerning the Youth Services Grant for 2022.

Members were pleased to hear the County Council had re-introduced youth crisis funding, that a new Youth Work team was working in West Oxfordshire and they had made contact with town council officers. The aims and work of this team were as yet unknown and would develop over the coming months. It did give the town council the opportunity to extend the remit of its youth services grant, totalling £40,000 for the current year.

The Committee discussed the merits of using some of the fund towards ‘free’ hire of premises but heard that the Corn Exchange and Burwell Hall didn’t meet the requirements of at least one group which offered outreach work in the town. There was further discussion on whether part of the fund could be earmarked towards a new, permanent youth facility, potentially at The Leys, as part of a future and wider re-development.

Members agreed that the funds could be used for and publicised as such, for hire costs of any facility to hold youth evenings/events and for funds towards a permanent youth structure.

Recommended:

1.       That, the report be noted and,

2.       That, the Youth Services Grant criteria be amended to add and highlight that funding may be used towards facility hire costs and towards a permanent youth structure.