Agenda item

This Council resolves that it will engage with and integrate the Youth Council more closely with the Council and agrees the following principles:

1.    That the Youth Council has a permanent non-voting representative at Full Council meetings in order to participate in debates.

2.    That the Youth Council Members are supported by District Council Members at Youth Council meetings.

3.    That District Council Members are identified to support Youth Council Members in their engagement with local schools.

4.    That sufficient officer time is allocated to the Youth Council to enable it to meet its objectives.

The Council requests officers to report back to the next Council meeting on implementing these principles.

Councillor Fairhurst presented the motion regarding the Youth Council’s integration with Full Council. He said the most important matters discussed during this meeting had all been about the future, and yet not one young person was present to give the youth a voice. He read the proposed motion as set out in the agenda pack:

This Council resolves that it will engage with and integrate the Youth Council more closely with the Council and agrees the following principles:

1.    That the Youth Council has a permanent non-voting representative at Full Council meetings in order to participate in debates.

2.    That the Youth Council Members are supported by District Council Members at Youth Council meetings.

3.    That District Council Members are identified to support Youth Council Members in their engagement with local schools.

4.    That sufficient officer time is allocated to the Youth Council to enable it to meet its objectives.

The Council requests officers to report back to the next Council meeting on implementing these principles.

Councillor Lemon urged members to support this motion as it was important to consider the views of young people.

Councillor Loughlin said she had an issue with the Youth Council having a seat at Full Council as they had not been elected. She said she would be abstaining.

Councillor Criscione urged members to support the Youth Council; he said they would have no voting rights so it did not bring in to question the democratic mandate of Council.

Councillor Sell commended the work of councillors who had brought the Youth Council to fruition, but questioned the selective nature of Youth Councils and asked whether the Youth Council was truly representative of young people as a whole.

Councillor Foley urged members to support the motion. He said it was a youth council that had inspired him to take an interest and get involved in politics. 

Councillor Khan said a Youth Council would not appeal to every young person so it was important to ensure inclusivity and that all were fairly represented. He would be supporting the motion.

Councillor Gerard said he had seen the benefits a young voice could bring to the table, as demonstrated by Felsted Parish Council’s policy to have a young person sit in and contribute to parish meetings. He said Newport were looking at a similar proposal.

In response to a question from Councillor Driscoll, Councillor Fairhurst confirmed that YC members were from across the district.

Councillor Day said this was an investment in Uttlesford’s future and members would be arrogant to ignore the views of young people.

Councillor Isham said it was important to include young people in decision making and urged members to support the motion.  

RESOLVED to engage with and integrate the Youth Council more closely with the Council and agrees the following principles:

1.         That the Youth Council has a permanent non-voting representative at Full Council meetings in order to participate in debates.

2.         That the Youth Council Members are supported by District Council Members at Youth Council meetings.

3.         That District Council Members are identified to support Youth Council Members in their engagement with local schools.

4.         That sufficient officer time is allocated to the Youth Council to enable it to meet its objectives.

The Council requests officers to report back to the next Council meeting on implementing these principles.

The meeting closed at 10.15pm.