Exclusive: Broke Birmingham Council spends £160,000 on consultants while slashing critical youth services

Last week shocked youth workers were told all 37 part-time staff were being made redundant and youth centres were up for sale, and they were subsequently told there is no place for managers in the new-look department.

Read more here: Anger as devastated youth workers told of major job cuts by Birmingham City Council with centres to be sold

The council's march budget forced departments to find savings but cutting the city's youth service during a teenage knife crime epidemic was not envisaged by those who protested against the cuts.

Birmingham Youth Service, the Careers Service and Teenage Services are being merged into one department with an annual budget of £500,000.

Over the last four months consultants from Newton Europe have been touring Birmingham Youth Centres trying to understand how the understaffed and underfunded youth service helps so many vulnerable children.

Employees described the consultants as 'naive at best' concerning their experience and understanding of youth work, which now includes helping feed families, sexual health education, locating missing children and identifying youngsters vulnerable to county lines and sexual exploitation gangs.

Giving £160,000, a third of the annual budget, of taxpayers' cash to Newton Europe consultants to help design the merger of the three services sparked incredulity towards council bosses who bungled the meeting informing staff of redundancies on Thursday.

Sue Harrison, strategic director for children and families, who gets paid over £100,000 to make decisions, repeatedly mixed up her own staff's roles and could not answer workers' questions.

Ms Harrison hired Newton Europe to redesign the services but its £160,000 report has not been made public.

However, it is unknown whether Ms Harrison embraced Newton Europe's report or rejected their restructure ideas.

Youth workers and unions who were part of the meeting branded the presentation confusing and riddled with simple mistakes about youth worker roles.

Ms Harrison was clear all the city's youth centres would be put up for sale and those who survive the redundancy process would be "agile working" instead building relationships in communities.

A youth worker, who does not want to be named, said: "The council has told us there is no money, we are being urged to take voluntary redundancies.

“We know centres are closing but not which ones yet and somehow they have found the money to pay complete novices to decide the future of youth provision in the youngest city in Europe.

“It is heartbreaking and sickening in equal measure. The difference one youth worker can make in a community is massive, so instead of paying for six or seven youth workers the council decided to give taxpayers' money to a private company."

Newton Europe usually recommends cuts to the services which it consults about. Its website describes its working practices: "Solving our clients’ thorniest challenges is more than a job. It’s career-defining.

“We’re pushing the limits of what’s possible. It’s always exciting. Always a challenge. But it’s never easy."

Birmingham Council confirmed Newton Europe is being paid £160,000 to review the service.

A spokesman said: "Newton Europe have been appointed to conduct this review, and once it is complete the council will consider the recommendations regarding future service delivery."

Ms Harrison told staff at the end of the meeting on Thursday that her team would look again at the new structure after managers' roles were not included in the new model.

However, they were subsequently told the new structure had no place for them, they were also furious Ms Harrison had booked the week off after the department's most important announcement this year.

The council confirmed the process had been handled badly.

A spokesman said: "As a result of feedback received from staff, the business case for the redesign of the Youth Service, which was written by city council managers, has been revised and shared with the recognised Trade Unions. It will be made available to Youth Service staff today.

“Getting everything signed off took longer than planned and staff have been sent an apology for any inconvenience caused.

"To ensure staff in the Youth Service have more opportunities to discuss the proposals, a series of ‘Drop-In’ sessions is being arranged and these will take place in the locality, with some in the evening so staff who work after 5pm can attend.

"Senior officers in Children and Families Directorate are available this week to respond to any queries from staff or the trade unions.”

Newton Europe has been contacted for comment.