Issue - meetings

Appendix 2 is included in Supplementary 1 in A3 colour.

(The Chair agreed to bring forward consideration of this item in view of the interest in the subject from those in the public gallery.)

The Leader of the Council presented a report on proposals to provide programmed activities and support for young people in a new, state-of-the-art Youth Zone facility in Parsloes Park.

The Leader advised that he had visited two similar projects in the north of England earlier in the year and was very excited at the prospect of Barking and Dagenham hosting the first Youth Zone in London.  In respect of the costs associated with the construction and running of the Youth Zone facilities, it was proposed that the Council would fund 50% of the construction costs in the form of a £3m capital grant, with the remaining £3m being met from investment secured through The Queen’s Trust and the Jack Petchey Foundation.  OnSide Youth Zone, the registered charity behind the Youth Zone concept, had also been successful in securing the full revenue funding for the project for at least the first three years and was confident of securing on-going funding commitments from private and other investors.  The Leader also referred to the personal support for the project from the Chair of Agilysis, the Council’s partner in the Elevate East London joint venture, who had offered to lead the Youth Zone Board once it was established.

Cabinet Members expressed their support for the initiative and raised a number of issues which included:

·  Make-up of the Board of Trustees – The Leader advised that representatives from the Council, local businesses and the community would be invited to join the Board.

·  Social Impact and Lasting Legacy – Assessments of the impact of the OnSide Youth Zone projects that were operating in the north of England showed that levels of anti-social behaviour and childhood obesity reduced following the introduction of the new facilities, while hundreds of young people had successfully moved from school into work or further education due to the support and encouragement they received via Youth Zone.

·  Facilities at the Youth Zone – The Cabinet Member for Environment particularly welcomed the inclusion of music suites which she hoped would lead to more young people choosing to pursue music as a subject at school and beyond.  Members were also very pleased to note that areas of the building would be dedicated for female-only activities and there would be a dedicated programme of activities and support for young people with disabilities.

It was recognised that Parsloes Park was the ideal location for the Youth Zone as it was in the heart of the Borough and accessible by public transport from across the Borough.  The Cabinet Member for Regeneration suggested that if there were ever plans to create a second facility in the Borough, the Barking Riverside area would be an excellent location in view of the significant regeneration of that area in the years to come.

Cabinet resolved to:

(i)  Agree, in principle, the development of a  ...  view the full minutes text for item 25