The Youth Service inspection report identifies both strengths and weaknesses. Some of the youth work practice has been praised and there are many good front line youth workers in Slough.

When we inherited the Youth Service, we also inherited historic problems which had built up over years. We have already taken action to address many of these, and the inspection report recognised that. Measures have been introduced to improve the quality of youth work and raise the standards of young people's achievement. These aspects were judged to be satisfactory by the inspectors.

Reversing years of decline cannot be achieved overnight. Neither can the disentangling of a top-heavy management structure which is unfit for purpose.

For these reasons we are proposing to close the existing service and open a new one. We will retain the good aspects and build on these to create a service to be proud of.

We believe that this will be achieved by fully involving young people in designing the new service. Cabinet has already agreed to move forward quickly with its plans, thereby demonstrating its strong commitment to the young people of Slough.