Agenda and draft minutes

At this point in the meeting, Members are asked to declare:

·        any personal interests not included on the Register of Interests

·        any prejudicial interests or

·        any disclosable pecuniary interests

which they may have in respect of business on this agenda.

Members were asked to declare any personal or prejudicial interests or disclosable pecuniary interests which they might have in respect of the business on the agenda. None were declared.

To approve and sign the minutes of the Play Opportunities Scrutiny Review Task Group Meeting held on 9 August 2016.

Resolved:  That the minutes of the meeting of the Play Opportunities Scrutiny Review Task Group held on 9 August 2016 be approved and then signed by the Chair as a correct record.

It is at this point in the meeting that members of the public who have registered their wish to speak can do so. The deadline for registering is by 5pm on Tuesday 1 November 2016. Members of the public can speak on specific planning applications or on other agenda items or matters within the remit of the committee.

To register please contact the Democracy Officers for the meeting, on the details at the foot of this agenda.

Filming or Recording Meetings

Residents are welcome to photograph, film or record Councillors and Officers at all meetings open to the press and public. This includes the use of social media reporting, i.e. tweeting.  Anyone wishing to film, record or take photos at any public meeting should contact the Democracy Officers (whose contact details are at the foot of this agenda) in advance of the meeting.

The Council’s protocol on Webcasting, Filming & Recording of Meetings ensures that these practices are carried out in a manner both respectful to the conduct of the meeting and all those present.  It can be viewed at http://www.york.gov.uk/download/downloads/id/11406/protocol_for_webcasting_filming_and_recording_of_council_meetings_20160809.pdf

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

This report provides an update on the work carried out to date in support of this scrutiny review, and presents information on engagement techniques for ward councillors to use when engaging with children, young people and families in their local ward. 

Members considered a report which provided them with an update on the work carried out to date in support of the scrutiny review and presented information on engagement techniques for ward councillors to use when engaging with children, young people and families in their local ward.

With regard to objective (i) “Members noted the information contained in the report and new information contained in the annexes C, D and E.

In response to objective (ii) and in relation to the example engagement techniques detailed in the report, the Head of Communities and Equalities advised Members to:

·        Consider the use of the engagement techniques included in annex D which could be tailored to suit age and ability and used and adapted to talk about any issue.

·        Consider ways to provide feedback to show young people that their views are valued.

·        Consider how best to use ward committee meetings to reach different parts of the community, including young people, by varying format of meetings, meeting times, venues etc.

·        Identify key groups and build connections with existing organisations (youth groups, nurseries, playgroups, schools etc) which already have established relationships with children and young people. YorOK website provides a directory of organisations.

·        Make contact with schools who will have either a pastoral lead or teacher responsible for downtime. Talk to teacher/pastoral lead in advance of visiting to find out what engagement techniques would be most suitable for their children and consider meeting with the school council.

·        Consider talking to VOICE - a group set up by young people in Clifton and Clifton Without who attend ward meetings, and the Show Me That I Matter Panel, Young inspectors, or Youth Council.

Members queried which wards had ward priorities explicitly around children and young people and what engagement work had taken place or was planned.  They agreed to liaise with their own political groups to identify examples of where young people had been consulted, what if any barriers had been encountered, and what positives outcomes had been achieved.

In considering objective (iii)and the examples of previously successful refurbishment projects e.g. Cornlands Road, the Task Group recognised the importance of good communication and engagement throughout the development of a scheme.  They agreed that the views of a whole community should be sought and not just those of existing users of a play space as it would better encourage co-existence and community cohesion. 

In response to objective (iv), the Task Group considered the benefits of producing a best practice guide for Councillors to assist them in engaging with children and young people in their wards and to support them in the process of developing or refurbishing a play space.  The Task Group recognised that Members may also benefit from some specific skills training on engaging with children and young people as it would be beneficial to Members for other purposes in their wards. 

With regard to Objective (v) the Task Group acknowledged that this was most likely to occur in areas  ...  view the full minutes text for item 8.