Agenda item

This report invites Members to have exploratory discussions with representatives from the Youth Council about issues that are a priority for young people at this time.  The Young Inspectors Team will also give an informal presentation and invite discussion about their activities. 

Members received a report that invited them to have exploratory discussions with representatives from the Youth Council about issues that were a priority for young people at this time. 

Representatives from the Youth Council brought the following issues to Members’ attention:

Political Education

A copy of a toolkit entitled “Future Decision Makers” was circulated.  The training resource had been produced by the Youth Council and Youth Parliament for use in secondary schools.  Members were asked for their help in promoting the resource in schools.

Members congratulated the representatives from the Youth Council on this excellent piece of work and offered their support by agreeing to raise awareness of the resource.  Officers also offered their support in promoting the toolkit.

Funding the Youth Council

Members’ attention was drawn to the uncertainty regarding funding for the Youth Council from April 2011 onwards.  It was noted that the funding for staffing from “Take Part” would cease in 2011.  In addition to staffing, money was needed to fund residential activities, running costs for meetings and funds to attend regional meetings of UKYP. 

The representatives from the Youth Council asked if it would be possible to use the facilities at the Explore centre without charge.  They would wish to use the building, on a Wednesday evening if possible, to hold Youth Council and campaign group meetings.

Members paid tribute to the way in which the Youth Council was working and the contribution that it was making to ensure that young people had a say in decision making.  Concerns were expressed at the impact that the loss of funding may have on the group; however, it was not possible to offer certainty about any Council funded programmes from 2011 onwards.  The position would be clearer in the Autumn.  Meanwhile, officers agreed to look into the possibility of making the Explore centre available to the Youth Council as a contribution in kind.  The Executive Member for Leisure, Culture and Social Inclusion would also follow this up.

City Centre Building

An update was given on the city centre building project to provide a place for young people to socialise.  Members were delighted to hear that good progress had been made and that an application for change of use had been made in respect of the building.  Details were given of the fundraising that was taking place.  Members congratulated those involved on having already raised £54k.  Requests had been made for ward funding and for contributions from parish councils.  Members suggested that Youth Council representatives should attend ward committee meetings to explain more about the project and how it would benefit young people in all parts of the city, not just those in the Guildhall Ward.   Discussion took place as to charities and businesses that could be approached to seek donations.  Details of the Twitter account for the youth café were circulated (twitter.com/youthcafe4york).

Social Networking

Details were given of a request by the Youth Council to make use of opportunities presented by Social Networking Sites and in particular Facebook.  The Youth Council had worked with council officers to develop a framework detailing how they would wish to use social networking sites.  The framework was included as Annex A of the report.   At the request of Members, details were given of the safeguards that would be in place and of the way content would be moderated. 

RESOLVED:(i)         That the comments made by the representatives of the

Youth Council be noted.

(ii)That Members would seek to promote awareness of the training pack on democracy.

(iii)That Officers would explore the possibility of Youth Council representatives being invited to give a presentation on the training pack at a meeting of heads or deputy heads during the autumn term.

(iv)That the concerns regarding future funding for the Youth Council be brought to the attention of the Executive.

(v)That the Executive Member for Leisure, Culture and Social Inclusion explore the request from the Youth Council regarding the use of facilities at the explore centre.

(vi)That the framework detailing how the Youth Council planned to use social networking sites be endorsed.

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

The Youth Council representatives were thanked for their attendance at the meeting and for the contribution that they had made.