Agenda and minutes

Members were invited to declare at this point in the meeting, any personal or prejudicial interests they might have in the business on the agenda.

Councillor D’Agorne declared a personal interest in the remit of the Working Group as a Careers Adviser at York College.

Councillor Potter also declared a personal interest in the remit of the Working Group as the Cabinet Member for Education, Children and Young People’s Services.

No other interests were declared.

To approve and sign the minutes of the meetings held on 18 October 2010 and 20 June 2011.

RESOLVED:       That the minutes of the Young People’s Working Group held on 18 October 2010 and 20 June 2011 be approved and signed by the Chair as a correct record.

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. The deadline for registering is Friday 14 October 2011 at 5:00 pm.

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

This agenda item will provide the opportunity for consultation and discussion to take place between Members, the Youth Council and other Young People.

Discussion between Members, the Youth Council and other Young People who were present at the meeting took place. Details of this discussion are presented under the following minute items, “York Youth Council Annual Report and Future Priorities” and “The Young Inspectors”.

This report invites Members to meet representatives of the Youth Council for an informal discussion. Members of the Youth Council will present their Annual Report, which is attached at Annex A. They will summarise their work over the past year and outline their future priorities.

Members received a report which invited them to meet representatives of the Youth Council for an informal discussion, and to consider the Youth Council’s Annual Report.

Members of the Youth Council who were present at the meeting summarised their report and spoke about the three main campaigns that they had focused over the last year, these being;

-      The development of a City Centre Youth Café

-      The establishment of a Festival of Youth

-      Change Champions

Three Youth Council Members who were also Members of the UK Youth Parliament spoke about achievements that had been reached in relation to the Young Carers Card (which requests that young carers get more time and support) and Future Decision Making Packs. The Working Group was informed that the new Youth Council had met for their first session and would report back to Members at a future meeting.

Discussion between Members and Youth Councillors took place around issues such as;

-      Increased participation in Youth Council elections, such as the use of webcams for candidates to make speeches.

-      Promotion of these elections and the Youth Council in general, on the schools curriculum in York.

-      Widening participation in the Youth Council to include secondary schools.

It was noted that funding to resolve issues was often a challenge (in particular, the widening of the YorZone card to students aged 16-18) and that co-operation from all schools in the city was not always guaranteed.

It was suggested that bus travel and the issues around this could be a priority for the Youth Council. Members suggested that the Youth Council might have a better chance of success if they present the idea of a trial period for the extension of the YorZone card to the bus companies, rather than a full extension.

Finally, it was reported, that the Youth Council was happy to offer Members a standing invite to attend their meetings, the next one being on 2 November 2011.

RESOLVED:       That the Annual Report of the York Youth Council be received.

REASON:           To ensure that young people’s views are taken into account in Council decision-making.

This report invites Members to meet some of York’s Young Inspectors, to hear about their work, and to debate possible future ideas for activities.

Members received a report about the York Young Inspectors Programme and met some of the Young Inspectors present at the meeting.

Members were informed about the work of the Young Inspectors, in inspecting organisations in York on how they considered young people when providing their services.

It was reported that the Young Inspectors would undertake an assessment of an organisation and then write a report which would be sent to the organisation. The inspections would often take place, after organisations had approached the Young Inspectors to inform them of what their strengths were in relation to their services to young people, but sometimes a ‘mystery shopper’ assessment would be undertaken.

In relation to how the current Young Inspectors took up their roles, Members were informed that invitations were sent out to Youth Clubs to urge involvement in the scheme. In some cases, potential Youth Inspectors were referred through mentoring schemes.

Members asked the Young Inspectors if feedback and findings from their inspections were being shared with other organisations in the city. The Young Inspectors responded that there were often issues with confidentiality, such as in the assessment of the anti bullying survey, which prevented sharing information with others.

Some Members asked if assessments could be carried out unannounced when the Young Inspectors had not informed organisations of the inspection. It was noted that inspections had not been planned in this way. The Young Inspectors added that they wished to inspect provision for young people by bus companies in York. Some Members added that they would inform the Quality Bus Partnership of the Young Inspectors concerns.

Members were informed of the inspection of the Council’s Shine Magazine for young people. Conclusions from this inspection included that more pictures needed to be included, stronger language regarding bullying should be used and that more leaflets on Sex Education and alcohol needed to be available for young people in the city.

RESOLVED:       (i)      That the report be noted.

(ii)      That the oral feedback from the Young Inspectors be noted.

REASON:                     To ensure that young people’s views are taken into account in Council decision-making.

Members received a presentation on the Change Champions scheme. This was not part of the printed agenda, but with the agreement of the Chair, the Working Group received the presentation.

Members were informed about the scheme and what work the scheme had been involved in. They were informed that the scheme was a model of neighbourhood working which trained Young People to look at statistics and priorities at a local level. This would then allow for an action plan to be produced for the ward regarding the issues that were important for young people in the local area.

Issues that the Change Champions had raised included;

-Open Spaces and the use of these by young people

-The use of more positive signs to replace signs such “No Ball Games”, an example of a more positive sign being “You Can Play Here”.

Discussion between Members and Officers focused on updated case studies of Change Champion work, young people submitting priorities to Ward Committees and if, as a result of the trial in the selected wards, that the programme would be extended in the rest of the city.

It was noted that the Neighbourhood Management Team were taking the lead on the trial of Change Champions in the city, but that Members wished to receive a further update report from Officers in relation to Voice and Influence work at a future meeting.

RESOLVED:       (i)      That the presentation be noted.

(ii)      That an update report on the Change Champion and other Voice and Influence work be presented to the Young People’s Working Group at a future meeting.

REASON:                     To ensure that the Change Champions’ views are taken into account in Council decision-making.

This report invites Members to consider topics for possible inclusion on the future work programme of the Group.

Discussion took place between Members and Officers which related to the work plan of the Young People’s Working Group.

The Chair raised a comment about the presentation of minutes of Working Groups being presented at Cabinet meetings. He suggested that the Chairs of Working Groups should be invited to future Cabinet meetings when the minutes of their groups were scheduled to be considered.

RESOLVED:       That the following items be added to the work plan;

(i)           That a report on Change Champions and Voice and Influence Work be considered at the meeting of the Young People’s Working Group in January.¹

(ii)          That an invitation be extended to the York Youth Council to attend the next meeting of the Young People’s Working Group in January.²

(iii)        That dates of Youth Council meetings be circulated to Members.³

REASON:                     So that the Working Group’s work plan be updated.