Agenda item

To consider a report on the Uttlesford Youth Council.

At the Chairman’s suggestion, the item on the Uttlesford Youth Council was heard next. 

                        Councillor Lemon, in his capacity as Chairman of the Public Engagement Working Group, presented a report seeking the Council’s agreement to fund the annual cost of the Youth Council, and to endorse its constitution.  He said he was delighted to welcome Isabella Writtle, Charles Yallup and Oliver Woor to the meeting.  With the permission of the Chairman, he invited them to address Council.

                       Isabella Writtle said the Youth Council was a great opportunity to represent the the young people of the district.  The Youth Council had at the moment had many different working groups, of which the most important to her were the Community and Mental Health working group, because they let young people know their existence was recognised and that they could join, and gave them power to say something about their lives.  Mental health, as Councillor Rolfe had said, was a leading problem for young people.  The idea was to focus on what young people were struggling with, as if they could talk about it, that was ideal. 

                       The Chairman thanked Isabella Writtle for her address.  He said it took a bit of nerve for a young person to speak to a meeting of Full Council.  He endorsed her concern about mental health, and added he was aware, as his son was now an undergraduate, of the extra investment universities were having to make in provision of more counselling services. 

                        Councillor Lemon said the Uttlesford Youth Council were a vibrant group.  They were picking subjects which were meaningful.  The Youth Council had 22 members from five schools, and was looking to get members from other organsiations.  It had met seven times since March. 

Councillor Lemon said the Youth Council’s constitution currently provided for yearly elections, with the next one in November, but feedback was indicating that the interval between elections could change to two-yearly after November.  If so, a further report would be brought to Council to recognise an amendment to the Youth Council’s constitution.  He proposed the motion. 

Councillor Fairhurst seconded the motion. 

The Leader said he fully endorsed the proposals.  He asked what measures might be taken to reach beyond schools, but recognised the venture was an iterative exercise.  He was happy to endorse the Youth Council’s constitution. 

The Chairman said he too felt it would be commendable to involve a spread of young people, not just those taking A levels. 

Councillor Lemon said it was important to recognise too that the Youth Council was an independent council. 

Councillor Gordon said in relation to including young people outside schools that in Takeley he was aware many children attended schools and clubs outside the district, in Hertfordshire. 

Councillor Lemon said the Youth Council were aware of this factor, as part of their considerations.

Councillor Chambers asked Councillor Lemon, through the Chairman, and the Youth Council representatives, if, as the oldest member of the Council, he could come and listen to what the Youth Council were saying.  He congratulated Isabella Writtle for speaking. 

The Chairman said he echoed that request, and that if members of the Youth Council wished it, he would be happy to come to a meeting or event, to provide advice “from the back seat”.

Councillor Lemon said he had been to meetings of the Youth Council, and whilst he knew the Youth Council would welcome members, he wished to make the point that if councillors attended, they should not tell the young people what to do. 

Councillor Light said she had been privileged to work with the Youth Council from the start.  She had been impressed by the calibre of the young people, who had themselves formulated the Youth Council constitution.  She asked the Chairman whether the other young representatives present could be invited to speak. 

The Chairman acknowledged the point made earlier, that many young people in the district went to school elsewhere.  He encouraged members to promote the Youth Council as a voice for young people, and would do so himself, as he was on the board of Foresthall School.

Charles Yallup addressed members.  He thanked the Council for supporting young people in setting up a Youth Council, as he was thrilled to have been involved.  Young people were keen to experiment with this forum.  He felt honoured to have this opportunity to engage with the Council, and looked forward to working with members.

On being put the vote, the motion was carried unanimously.

RESOLVED  to

(a)  agree to funding as set out in the Financial Implications; 

(b)  endorse the Youth Council constitution as appended and to recognise it in the Uttlesford District Council constitution including to access to Council meetings.