The Growth and Planning and Children's and Education Policy and Scrutiny Committee reviewed its work programme, received updates from Cabinet Members for Growth and Planning and Children and Education, and scrutinised the Council's strategies for preventing young people from becoming Not in Education, Employment, or Training (NEET). Key recommendations were made regarding the recognition of youth services, strengthening school attendance tracking, improving the analysis of NEET figures, and prioritising early intervention in NEET prevention strategies.

Work Programme Review

The Committee briefly discussed its Work Programme for the municipal year, noting a change to the next meeting date, which was rescheduled to October 1st. The proposed agenda items for the year ahead were also reviewed.

Update from the Cabinet Member for Growth and Planning

Councillor Tim Barnes, Cabinet Member for Growth and Planning, provided an update on his portfolio, highlighting his intention to build on previous work while incorporating new administration priorities with an emphasis on growth. Key areas of discussion included:

• Oxford Street Proposals: Challenges related to accessibility, traffic volume, and air quality on side roads were discussed, alongside the Council's interaction with the Mayor of London's Office and the level of cooperation received.
• Licensing Policy: Members questioned why the draft licensing policy did not include the three night-time economy opportunity zones identified in a previous direction of travel document, seeking clarity on the prioritisation of support for these activities to encourage growth.
• Mayoral Powers and Al Fresco Dining: The Committee sought clarification on reports that the Mayor of London might use new licensing powers to impose al fresco dining arrangements in Soho.
• Member Decision Making: Concerns were raised about a delegated officer decision in planning to remove fourteen key worker homes from a scheme, with members questioning the Cabinet Member's satisfaction with such decisions being made at that level, given commitments to member decision-making.
• Westminster After Dark Strategy: The Committee inquired how this strategy would be reflected in the licensing policy review, particularly concerning a broader evening and night-time offer beyond alcohol-led activities, and sought clarity on the timetable for the licensing policy consultation.
• North Paddington Programme: Questions were raised about future plans beyond the current programme's end, including the continuation of the Board, officer support, and engagement with relevant ward councillors.
• Planning and Building Control: The purpose of the planned restructure of the planning department was discussed, with members seeking to understand if it was solely for cost reduction or to improve efficiency, and inquiring about the proposed timeline.
• Regent Street: The Committee sought assurance on how the Cabinet Member would ensure the consultation process for Regent Street would be neither leading nor pre-determined, and that responses would be assessed to appropriately weight residents' views against wider visitor responses.

The Committee requested to be provided with the emerging growth strategy at the earliest opportunity for consideration prior to its submission to Cabinet.

Update from the Cabinet Member for Children and Education

Councillor Hannah Galley, Cabinet Member for Children and Education, presented the priorities and challenges within her portfolio. Discussions covered:

• Phone Use and Screen Time: The extent to which the Council could influence schools to reduce phone use and screen time was debated, with members considering whether stronger restrictions adopted by some schools should be more widely implemented across Westminster due to their potential positive impact on educational attainment.
• Reclaiming Surplus School Balances: The Committee sought clarity on whether Westminster's bi-borough partner was reclaiming surplus budgets from schools and if this was being considered for Westminster.
• Care Placements: The work being undertaken to reduce the cost of care placements, the level of profit being made by providers, and how providers would be held accountable were discussed. The role of regional collaboration in strengthening purchasing power was also explored.
• Free School Meals: The impact of changes to free school meal eligibility, specifically the removal of those whose parents are not in receipt of Universal Credit, was a significant point of discussion. Members asked about the number of children who would lose out, the exclusion of children with SEND whose parents are not on Universal Credit, and others in financial difficulty but not receiving benefits. Clarity was also sought on the numbers, annual costs, and savings associated with the proposed changes.
• Falling Roll Numbers: The Committee enquired about the Council's proactivity in identifying schools at risk of financial or operational challenges due to falling rolls and whether earlier strategic intervention was necessary.

The Committee requested to be provided with the number of children who would lose out on free school meals following the proposed change to eligibility, the expected savings, and the percentage of children who would still receive free school meals.

Preventing NEET Through Attendance, Inclusion and Transition in Westminster

The Committee scrutinised Westminster's arrangements for preventing young people from becoming Not in Education, Employment, or Training (NEET). Councillor Hannah Galley, Cabinet Member for Children and Education, introduced the report, highlighting the national context and the challenges and costs associated with NEET individuals. Councillor Tim Barnes, Cabinet Member for Growth and Planning, commented on the links between youth participation, employment pathways, and long-term economic outcomes.

Nora Loewenberg, Director of Programmes at the Young Westminster Foundation (YWF), introduced her organisation and its role in supporting local youth organisations. She emphasised the preventative role of youth services, the importance of trusted adults, consistent support, youth clubs, volunteering, sports, and arts provision, and the challenges young people face regarding transitions, SEND, caring responsibilities, poverty, confidence, and belonging.

The Cabinet Members, supported by senior officers, addressed questions on several aspects of NEET prevention:

• Not Known Category: Clarification was sought on the meaning of the not known category, how the Council traced these young people, and whether this group represented a significant concern requiring a targeted approach.
• Role of Youth Clubs, Sports, Arts, and Civil Society: The Committee explored how the Council's NEET prevention strategy could better recognise the contribution of these sectors in maintaining young people's engagement, confidence, and sense of belonging.
• Post-18 Data and Scale of Need: The relationship between Department for Work and Pensions data for 18-24 year olds and the statutory 16-17 NEET cohort was discussed, including how many young people might meet a broader definition of being out of education, employment, or training.
• Westminster Anchor Alliance: The role of the Anchor Alliance in supporting young people into employment pathways was examined, and the Committee requested to receive the referenced plan.
• Terminology: The appropriateness of the term 'NEET' for individuals over eighteen was questioned.
• Attendance as an Early Warning Indicator: The Committee debated whether school attendance should be prioritised as a key indicator for NEET prevention, given its link to later disengagement.
• Initiatives for Structured Support: Members inquired about existing local or central government initiatives providing structured support systems for young people who fall out of employment and education, and whether a formal structure would be beneficial. Discussions also touched upon conversations held with central government.
• Identifying Stories Behind Figures: The Committee explored how the Council could better identify the underlying challenges contributing to NEET status, how well these challenges were understood, and whether artificial intelligence could improve data collection and understanding of how individuals fall out of existing systems.
• Council's Role in Attendance: Clarity was sought on the Council's powers regarding school attendance, given its importance for positive outcomes for young people, and whether the Council had autonomy for earlier intervention.
• Confidence in Data: The Council's confidence in the reported NEET and not known figures was questioned, considering the dynamic nature of the cohort.
• Support for Families: Members asked about the support available for families facing barriers to attendance and engagement, such as parental mental health, SEND, delayed diagnosis, or wider family pressures, and whether attendance expectations were too low.

The Committee requested to be provided with the 'Anchor Alliance' plan once available.

Recommendations:

The Committee made the following recommendations:

• That the Council, with immediate effect, include and recognise the importance of youth clubs, sports, arts, and volunteering in its strategy for addressing NEET issues.
• That the Council continue to strengthen its approach to school attendance, utilising live attendance data and earlier support for emerging patterns of concern, as this is a key early warning indicator for later disengagement. An update on progress is to be provided within six months.
• That the Council improve its tracking and analysis of young people aged sixteen and seventeen recorded as NEET or not known, including a clearer understanding of the reasons for disengagement and the different levels of support required. An initial update is to be provided within six months.
• That the Cabinet Member for Children and Education, ahead of future service planning and budget setting for 2027/28, give greater emphasis to early intervention in the Council's NEET prevention work, considering whether sufficient resources are directed towards earlier identification and support before young people fall out of education, employment, or training.