Brent Council rejects youth service closure plans but backs outsourcing

At a cabinet meeting on Monday night councillors rejected a move to save £1.3m through the axing of its Brent's youth services.

A plan to slash £522,000 in spending from its Connexions careers advisory service was also rejected as was a move to save £1.2m by closing 10 children’s centres.

Instead the council is to look to outsource children’s centres and youth services. Cabinet members approved a plan to use £1m to of youth services funding “to find new means of service provision in partnership with the voluntary sector and other groups”.

In addition, contracts to run children’s centres in partnership with the council will also be put out to tender.

Brent Council deputy leader Michael Pavey said the dramatic cuts to children’s and young people's services were rejected after criticisms were raised in a public consultation. He particularly praised the “eloquent representations” from Brent Youth Parliament in defence of local youth services.  

Concerns about the plans to axe youth and Connexions services were also raised by the council’s chief finance officer Conrad Ball in his report to the cabinet.

The cuts were part of a package of measures to make £54m worth of cuts to tackle shrinking central government funding. The council will now look to focus savings on better use of technology and senior management cutbacks.

Pavey added: “This government gave us an impossible task. They took our money and prevented us raising enough to plug the gap.

"In response, we started a conversation with the community. We listened. And where possible we changed our minds. As a result we have a budget which fulfils all our statutory obligations and safeguards the services the most vulnerable members of our community depend upon.”

The cabinet’s decisions are expected to be approved at a meeting of the full council on 2 March.