Issue - meetings

Motions on Notice will follow in a supplementary papers pack to this agenda.

A period of up to one hour is allocated to consider the motions on notice.  This may only be extended with the agreement of the Council.

The Chairman advised that three Notices of Motion had been submitted for this meeting.

Young People and Democracy

The Council considered the following Notice of Motion submitted by Councillor R. Hunter:

“Council notes with concern the growing levels of despondency with democracy amongst young people.

Council commits to take reasonable steps within our community to promote the benefits of local democracy to young people, and where practicable engage them in democratic processes, as appropriate to the Council’s remit as a district local authority. 

Council resolves to investigate options by the end of the calendar year, in partnership with local schools and youth groups, to involve local young people in the democratic process. This will include exploring the possibility of inviting young people to give a ‘thought for the day’ presentation at the beginning of Council meetings.”

In proposing the motion, Councillor Hunter referred to the connections between young people and the Council and Councillors which already took place and explained that the motion sought to build on this.  He considered that the Council should seek to renew its relationships with young people to encourage the continuation of democracy.

The Motion was seconded by Councillor S. Robinson. She referred to the work already being carried out and suggested that more could be done to stimulate interest in democracy in children and young people, in a politically neutral way.

During consideration of the Motion the following were the main points raised:

·       The Policy Team already had links to various youth groups in the District and it was suggested they could meet with Group Leaders to consider how the desire to increase participation by young people could be developed. 

·       Involving young people and children in Council meetings might have safeguarding and resource implications which would need to be explored.

·       A member reported on a youth council which had been set up during the covid pandemic and had been supported by various parts of the Council.

·       The view was expressed that engaging young people should include understanding their environment and what they were capable of delivering, in partnership with the Council and Councillors.

·       It was important to involve young people in democracy, but attending formal Council meetings was unlikely to be attractive to them.

·       A member reported on work being carried out by parish Councils including visiting schools to engage with young people and setting up youth councils.  It was acknowledged that not all areas of the District were parished.

·       A member outlined a proposal to involve young people in the review of play areas in the District and suggested that a formalised process for engaging with young people might help the Council with future consultation work.

·       The view was expressed that engaging with young people should aim to enable them to tell the Council what was important to them.  This could be achieved in a number of ways and the Council should be innovative in its approach.

RESOLVED that

1)    Council notes with concern the growing levels of despondency with democracy amongst young  ...  view the full minutes text for item 29