Agenda and minutes

At this point Members are asked to declare any personal or prejudicial interests they may have in the business on this agenda.

At this point in the meeting The Chair invited Members to declare any personal or prejudicial interests they might have in the business on the agenda.

Councillor Aspden declared a personal non-prejudicial interest as he is a teacher for North Yorkshire Council and also as a member of the National Union of Teachers (NUT).

Councillor Fraser declared a general personal interest in items on the agenda as he is an affiliated member of the Club and Institute Union and as a City of York Council nominated participating observer on York CVS Board of Trustees.

To approve and sign the minutes of the meeting held on 15 January 2009.

RESOLVED:             That the minutes of the last meeting of the Working Group, held on 15 January 2009, be approved and signed as a correct record by the Chair.

At this point in the meeting members of the public who have registered their wish to speak regarding an item on the agenda or an issue within the Working Group’s remit can do so. Anyone who wishes to register or requires further information is requested to contact the Democracy Officer on the contact details listed at the foot of this agenda. The deadline for registering is Tuesday 21 April 2009 at 5.00 pm.

It was reported that there had been no registrations to speak at the meeting under the Council’s Public Participation Scheme.

Councillor Alexander as Children and Young People’s Champion was in attendance and has a standing invitation to attend all meetings of the Working Group.

This reports sets out the main developments in 2008/9 to promote the participation and involvement of children and young people in shaping services in the city. It also sets out forthcoming developments, including progress on establishing a new Youth Council in York.

Members considered a report which sets out the main developments in 2008/9 towards promoting participation and involvement  of children and young people in shaping services in the city.

Children and Young People’s Plan

Officers updated that the Children and Young People’s Plan had now been produced and that some of the commitments in it  reflected the comments made by YPWG especially in relation to York establishing an influential Youth Council and participating in the Youth Parliament.

Commissioning

Officers advised that commissioning is a broader term that incorporates many forms of procurement. A commissioning framework is being developed for services for children and young people in the city and it is the intention that by 2018 a greater percentage of the budget will be being directed by young people. Officers advised that they will continue to work on the proposals for achieving this in the months ahead.

Schools Council Conferences – towards a Youth Council for York.

Officers advised that funding is the main issue preventing a Youth Council being formed and York joining the Youth Parliament. Officers advised that there may be some funding becoming available through the Government’s “Taking Part” initiative and which would involve working alongside Neighbourhood Services to promote greater participation in local decision making. The final confirmation for the go-ahead of this project is expected soon.

Volunteering

Officers advised Members that the ‘Vinvolved’ project had been a success and a number of volunteering opportunities for young people had been created because of it.

Communications with Young People.

Officers updated that  Yor-Ok website had been well received with over 22,000 visits and was proving to be an important method for communicating with young people. Members and Officers discussed the opportunities social networking sites create for communicating with young people.

RESOLVED:             That the Young People’s Working Group note the developments outlined in the report.

REASON:                  To ensure Members are aware of young people’s views.

This report offers Members a further update on the preparations for a “myplace” bid to establish enhanced facilities for young people close to the city centre.

Members received a report which updated them on the preparations for a “myplace” bid to establish enhanced facilities for young people close to the city centre.

Officers updated that Phil Bixby, the community architect appointed to work on the scheme, had produced a set of drawings that demonstrate that it is possible to have all the elements needed to satisfy the requirements of “myplace” whilst also meeting the aspirations of the Railway Institute. He had also commissioned an initial set of costings  which confirmed that the scheme would cost around £8 or 9 million which is considerably in excess of the maximum sum allowable under “myplace” and the shortfall would need to be made up through other means which is the biggest stumbling block to successfully bringing the scheme to fruition. Officers confirmed that they are continuing with talks with Network Rail as the landowners who remain interested in the scheme without being formally committed to it.

Officers advised that they had been pursuing options for a less ambitious “plan B”. The aim would be to create or refurbish a city centre property that would include some of the aspects that young people have indicated they would like to see. Mr. Bixby had also been working on this with a group of young people to see if it would be possible to set up an interim youth café. He has named this element “myplace now”.

Members commented that they would like the scheme to develop in some form even if the ambitious “myplace” scheme does not come to fruition.

RESOLVED:That Members of the Young People’s Working Group note the update report.

REASON:                 To ensure that additional investment in youth facilities in the city is in line with our corporate priorities, and the views of residents and young people themselves.

Members may wish to have a brief informal debate about the future role and work of the YPWG in the light of the wider changes to EMAPs and Scrutiny Committees; their views can then be reflected in further discussions.

Members had an informal debate about the future role of the YPWG in light of the wider changes to EMAPs and Scrutiny Committees.

Members felt that overall the YPWG creates an opportunity for them to have  informal discussions on issues affecting children and young people in general and a place in which ideas can be discussed. Members would like to see the group continue in this way.

Members felt that the Children and Young People’s Champion should be a formal member of the Young Peoples Working Group, as currently he attends meetings of the Group on an informal basis. This would increase membership of the Group to 7.

The following points were raised and discussed:

• That in the future, Co-Optees may be invited onto the Working Group.

• Officers would prefer to submit shorter reports which prompt discussion between Members, rather than produce lengthy reports.

• More Young People to be invited to the meetings of the Working Group.

• Democratic Services to continue to be involved, particularly for the purpose of recording ideas and discussions in the minutes.

RESOLVED:That the Members of the Children and Young People’s Working Group ask the Executive to recommend to Council that the membership of the Group be increased to 7 in order for the Children and Young People’s Champion to have a formal place on the Group.

REASON:      In order to formalise the position of the Young Peoples Champion on the Working Group.