Agenda item

This item will take the form of a discussion into the role and future remit of the Young People’s Working Group.

There are no papers associated with this item.

Discussion took place amongst Members and Officers relating to the future of the Young People’s Working Group (YPWG).

The Chair circulated an annex on the remit of the Young People’s Working Group, which had been produced by Officers. This was attached to the agenda after the meeting, which was subsequently republished.

The Chair outlined that he felt that YPWG, due to its presence as an advisory rather than statutory group, tended only to offer information about what Young People were doing in the city, rather than as acting as an active conduit for views between Members and Young People. He suggested that the Constitution could possibly be amended to include the recommendation for the Cabinet Member for Education, Children and Young People to present an annual report alongside the Youth Council to Full Council.

Members expressed concerns at to why the Working Group had not recently met with the Youth Council or had attended the York Secondary Schools and Primary Schools Conferences. It was felt that better communication was needed between Members and Young People and that this could be done by attendance at the Schools Conferences, and Youth Council meetings by Members. Alongside this it was suggested that Youth Councillors and Young People should to be canvassed as to whether they wished to attend YPWG. It was noted that attendance at YPWG would only be when the Young People wished to attend.

Some Members felt that it would be detrimental to focus solely on the Youth Council as the only forum for the views of Young People, because of its limited scope in representing Young People of secondary school age. They noted that the views of Young People involved in the Show Me That I Matter Panels and the Junior A Team, for example, should not be forgotten.

Further discussion took place as to whether the Youth Council should be invited to the next meeting of YPWG, and if the Youth Council could discuss a similar item on their future at their next meeting. It was also felt to be beneficial for YPWG to receive a copy of the Youth Council’s remit at their next meeting.

RESOLVED:       That the following recommendations be forwarded to the Cabinet for their consideration;

(i)                That the opinion of the Young People’s Working Group is that its remit to provide a conduit between Young People and Members is at present not being met as well as it should.

(ii)              That the Young People’s Working Group meet the York Youth Council in order to address how to increase their engagement more widely with Young People.

(iii)            That consideration be given to holding additional meetings of the Young People’s Working Group in order for greater consultation between Members, Young People and Officers to take place.

(iv)            That the remit of the York Youth Council be presented to Members at the next meeting of the Young People’s Working Group.

(v)              That following consultation with Young People, further recommendations be presented to Cabinet as to how the Young People’s Working Group can progress.