Agenda and minutes

At the last meeting it was agreed that Rory would chair this meeting. Lucy would be Vice-Chairman.

Noted that Lucy was the Chairman for the meeting and Joseph was the Vice-Chairman.

            RESOLVED:

That the minutes of the meeting held on 7 October 2014 be taken as a correct record.

a)            Follow up from Guest Speaker Glen Winterborne - Catch 22 (minute 48)

Di advised that she had emailed the link to Youth Councillors to complete the questionnaire although everyone had advised there was a problem with the link.

ACTION: Di to contact Glen to inform him of the problem.

b)            EFYC Projects – ID Cards (minute 52(b))

Matthew advised that he had made the alterations to the survey but thought that the project should be delayed until February/March 2015 whilst they concentrated on the Bullying Project and Overview and Scrutiny presentation.

AGREED that Matthew would follow up the ID Cards in February/March 2015.

c)            School Update (minute 53)

Members gave updates on their school display boards. Leonora (St John’s School) and Olivia (Braside School) advised that they were still having problems obtaining a display area. Joe (Davenant School) and Doncho (Roding Valley High School) were awaiting their School Council elections to meet with the new School Council. Drew advised that King Harold had now got a display board.

Di advised that any Youth Councillors having problems, could put their request for a display board in writing, direct to their head teachers.

Di to report.

Di advised that the adult Panel members had given positive feedback and enjoyed the chance to speak with other agencies at the conference.

Di was awaiting the questionnaire’s back from Chigwell School and Debden Park to compile the conference report on the biggest issues effecting young people in the District. Di advised that so far Alcohol Issues and Bullying were the top priorities.

ACTION: IMOGEN/TOM/NATHAN to approach Chigwell School pupils who attend the conference and ask them to complete the questionnaire.

ACTION: LUCY/GEORGE to approach either the Mr Shepley or the Debden Park High pupils who attended to complete the questionnaire.

Youth Councillors commented on the variety and usefulness of the workshops in particular the Stress workshop in relation to exams.

Youth Councillors to feedback on events attended since the last meeting.

a)            Bullying Awareness Project Group

Joe advised that Matthew had produced a power point presentation (attached) for the Bullying Awareness week assemblies that were being held at Braeside School, West Hatch High School, Roding Valley High School and Epping St John’s School between 17- 21 November 2014. The wristbands had been designed and ordered for 1200 year 9 pupils in the District. Di advised that the logo designed by the Youth Council could not be reduced enough to fit on the wristbands, so it would be used on the promotion material instead. 

b)            Remembrance Services

Joe, Hazel, Leonora, Rose, Tom, Jaymey and Julie attended the Remembrance Service in Epping, Matthew and Doncho attended the Remembrance Service in Loughton and Malachi attended the Remembrance Service in Gants Hill.

c)            Slump Survivors

Joe advised that Julie had taken part in a Slum Survivor event in Theydon Bois to raise awareness and money for the Charity.

d)            Big Ben

Youth Councillors advised that they had attended a visit to Big Ben, arranged by the local MP, Eleanor Laing.

Matthew and Olivia had written to thank her for organising the event. Matthew advised that he had spoken to Eleanor Laing at the Remembrance Service in Loughton and she had said that the Youth Council were welcome to send any information on to her.

ACTION: Di to send the conference report regarding Young Peoples concerns in the District to Eleanor Laing once completed. 

Jaymey advised that he would be meeting with Eleanor Laing when the UK Youth Parliament hold their ‘Make Your Mark’ debate in the House of Commons on 14 November 2014.

ACTION: Jaymey to ask whether the Youth Council could hold a meeting at Parliament with Eleanor Laing in attendance.

Di advised that the Youth Council were meeting with Robert Halfon MP for Roydon and Nazeing on Monday 16 February 2015.

e)             Thurrock Youth Council

Rose,

Leonora, Olivia and Joe had attended the Thurrock Youth Council meeting and the bullying debate with Nick Alston, the Police and Crime Commissioner.

Doncho to report.

Doncho advised that he had spoken with the Head Teacher from Roding Valley High school regarding his idea to improve relations with other secondary schools. Doncho was considering using the Creative Arts or Sports departments to organise a collaboration between schools.

Di advised that the Civic Offices could be used as a venue to host an inter-school debate.

ACTION: ALL YOUTH COUNCILLORS to enquiry with their Head Teachers and School Councils if they would considered supporting these events. 

Youth Councillors to nominate.

Youth Councillors were asked to nominate a fellow Youth Councillor for the Jack Petchey Award to be presented at the next meeting.

Di to advise the winner of the Youth Council Cup.

Di advised that Tom had won the Youth Council Cup for his contributions to the Youth Conference and working with North Weald Parish Council. He would attend the Chairman’s Civic Dinner on 27 February 2014.

To consider any new submission forms received and to give updates on any previous submission form.

Di advised that the following submission forms had been confirmed:

a)    Voluntary Action Epping Forest (VAEF) – Attending on 2 December 2014 to talk to the Youth Council about volunteering and intergenerational projects; and

b)    Sports Development – Attending 6 January 2015 to talk about the facilities they offer in the District.

(a)          The Chairman for the next meeting would be Rory and the Vice-Chairman would be Fred.

(b)          School Updates to be placed on the next agenda.

(a)          Notices by Diane;

(b)          Notices by Louis;

(c)          Any other Notices; and

(d)          Youth Councillor Notices.

1.         Taxi Budgets

Di asked that Youth Councillors be mindful whether they required a taxi because the budget for the year had nearly been used.

AGREED that Youth Councillors would be more selective on events attended that require Taxi’s and public transport or parents be used more.

Comments were received on the taxi services and length of routes used.

ACTION: Di to follow this up with the taxi company.

AGREED that if any Youth Councillors were concerned about the route taken, they should contact Di or Louis whilst they were in the taxi.

2.         Epping Forest Strategy Group (EFSG)

Jaymey, Olivia, Fred, Joe, Doncho, Matthew and Leonora to attend the EFSG on 11 December 2014.

3.         Overview and Scrutiny Presentation

ALL MEMBERS required to attend the O&S meeting on Monday 12 January 2015.

4.         Think Big O2 Funding

Di advised that Julie’s funding had been received; Nathan needed to arrange a conference call with Chloe at Think Big and Evie needed to apply again.

5.         Loughton Christmas Card Competition

The deadline for the competition was Wednesday 12 November 2014.

6.         St John’s Christmas Tree Festival

Di advised that if Youth Councillors wanted to attend the event, officer support could not be provided this year.

ACTION: LEONORA, MATTHEW, DREW, JOE, HAZEL, MALACHI, ROSE and TOM would arrange to decorate and put up the tree on 5 December and remove the tree on 8 December 2014.

7.         Social Media

Louis advised that the Social Media was being updated regularly on the Youth Council webpages, Twitter and Facebook.

8.         Local News letters

Louis advised that all Parish and Town had been contacted to see whether they had a news letter and whether Youth Councillors could write an article for them. Louis would update Youth Councillors.

9.         Diary Dates

The Diary Date sheet was circulated.

10.       Young Citizen of the Year

Louis advised that the closing date for nomination was 28 November 2014 and the Youth Councillors should encourage teachers to make nominations.

ACTION: YOUTH COUNCILLORS to promote Young Citizen of the Year

11.       Christmas Social

Louis advised that the Christmas Social had been booked at Top Golf for 9 December 2014.

12.       Police Crime Commission Forum

Louis advised that the meeting would be held on 10 December 2014 at 5-7 pm.

13.       Make Your Mark

Jaymey advised that he was attending the UK Youth Parliament debate in the House of Commons on 14 November 2014 discussing the five issues chosen by a ballot of young people across the UK.  A record 865,000 young people voted.

14.       Young Essex Assembly elections

Matthew advised that YEA elections were being held in January 2015.

To note that the next meeting will be held on Tuesday 2 December 2014 at 19.30 – 21.00 at the Civic Offices.

The next meeting would be held on Tuesday 2 December 2014 from 19:30 – 21.00 at the Civic Offices, Epping.