Agenda and minutes

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

Noted that Olivia was the Chairman for the meeting and Matthew was the Vice-Chairman.

            RESOLVED:

That the minutes of the meeting held on 6 January 2015 be taken as a correct record.

To consider any matters arising from the previous minutes.

a)            Intergenerational Event (Minute 85 (a))

The Intergenerational event on 19 February 2015 had been cancelled and would be re-arranged for the Easter Holidays.

ACTION: DI/LOUIS to advise Youth Councillors of an alternative date.

b)            Time Banking – VAEF (Minute 89. Submission Forms)

Mark Balkham (VAEF) would be attending the next meeting on 3 March 2015 to discuss ‘Time Banking’. Youth Councillors were asked to register themselves on the website for Harlow and Epping timebanking group and feedback on the accessibility and easy of the service.http://www.timebanking.org/

ACTION: ALL YOUTH COUNCILLORS to have a look at the website and register if they are interested in taking part.

c)             Houses of Parliament – Visit with Robert Halfon MP

Youth Councillors were asked to think of questions to put to Robert Halfon. Matthew informed Youth Councillors that Robert Halfon had appeared on a BBC 2 documentary regarding the Houses of Parliament which may help with questions.

Questions to be put to the MP so far were;

1.    Does Robert’s disability impact on his duties as an MP? And

2.    Does he think that his disabilities effect the way in which people perceive him?

ACTION: YOUTH COUNCILLORS to consider any other questions before their trip on Monday 16 February 2015.

Vicky Young (Essex County Council) to report.

Vicky Young attended the meeting to discuss the Youth Strategy Group which consisted of Essex County Councillors, District Councillors and officers, who were setting the priorities on Youth Services for 13- 19 year olds. Vicky wanted to find out from the Youth Council and their peers what services were priorities for young people and how young people could be involved in the commissioning process. Some of the services currently provided were the youth centres, mobile youth  centre, youth workers and projects.

Vicky would meet with the Youth Councillors after the meeting to discuss the priorities.

The Sports Development Team to give a short presentation to the Youth Council about the facilities in the District.

James Warwick and Fabrizio Ferrari gave a short presentation on the services the Sports Development Team provided around the District, which included professional services of sports coaching, health and fitness development. The team aim’s to encourage and increase participation in sports and physical activity and to promote health and wellbeing opportunities for all ages and sections of the community. The current programmes include;

·         Epping Forest Inclusion Project

·         Six For All

·         The Compass Club

·         Club forums and workshops

·         Cycling and Mountain Biking

·         Summer Programmes

·         Term time programme

·         Primary School Programmes

·         Epping Forest Bounce

·         Lifewalks

·         New Horizons

Fabrizio advised that only 30% of the District’s young people were accessing the facilities, which was why the Sports Development Team wanted the Youth Council to help promote the programmes or find out from their peers why young people were not accessing the services. He also advised that PE teachers were welcome to  contact them, to enable new activities to be brought into the schools.

There were also volunteering opportunities for young people to help out with programmes or work experience.

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

·         Overview and Scrutiny Presentation;

·         Youth Council Strategy Group; and

·         Any other events.

(a)          Overview and Scrutiny

Olivia advised that the presentation was successful. Matthew felt that they had prepared a lot more answers than what they were asked by the Adult Councillors and maybe the Youth Council could of asked more questions about the future of Youth provisions.

Lexi advised that a Task and Finish Panel had been requested, to consider how future funding would be used to inform Young people across the District about democracy. The panel had suggested a membership of two of Youth Councillors as none voting members. Once the details had been confirmed by the Overview and Scrutiny meeting, Youth Councillors would be informed.

(b)          Youth Strategy Group Presentation

Fred advised that the Youth Council had presented a report on the Youth Conference and the outcomes of that event.

(c)          Diversity Training

Youth Councillors found the training very useful.

There had been no further submission forms received.

Youth Councillors to report back on any school updates.

·         Olivia advised that a location had been found within the Braeside school for the Youth Council and she would be displaying the information;

·         Matthew advised that Roding Valley’s school council had still not been elected, so they had not been able to meet with them, but they had delivered an assemble about stress to pupils; and

·         Joe advised that the Davenant School Council wanted to be updated about the Youth Council.

Di to present the Youth Council Cup.

Olivia was presented with the Youth Council cup for her attendance, involvement in additional  Youth Councillor meetings and general contribution to the Youth Council. Olivia had been presented with the Youth council Cup and had been invited to the Chairman’s Civic Awards on 27 February 2015 at Downs Hall.

Di to present the Jack Petchey Award.

Julie was presented with the Jack Petchey Award for her local involvement, attendance and positive attitude. Julie had £200 to spend towards a Youth Coucnil project or event.

Youth Councillors to discuss the idea of a General Election Debate and involving young people in the District.

The Youth Council discussed ways of promoting democracy and debates ideas for the General Election.

Matthew thought that the Youth Council could deliver workshops on public speaking and campaigning and then a debate could be held afterwards with schools from the District. Attendees would be split into for and against and then asked to argue there side.

Fred suggested creating parties with their own agenda’s then a debate to follow. Youth Councillor agreed that is was a good idea and could be progressed.

ACTION: LEXI to report back to Gill/Di to progress this idea and work out dates.

a)    The Chairman for the next meeting would be Matthew and Chloe would be Vice-Chairman.

b)    Items for the next agenda;

·         School updates;

·         Feedback on Houses of Parliament visit

·         Feedback of Civic Awards and

·         Timebanking presentation.

(a)          Notices by Diane;

(b)          Notices by Louis;

(c)          Any other Notices; and

(d)          Youth Councillor Notices.

a)    Young Person’s Guide to Volunteering

Lexi advised that the ‘Young Person’s Guide to Volunteering’ Oyster wallets were at the printers and would need to be distributed to Year 9 Pupils in the Secondary schools. Youth Councillors suggested assemblies as the best way for them to be distributed and then a small stall at break time or Lunch time, if pupils wanted to ask any questions.

ACTION: LOUIS to arrange dates with the schools and advise the Youth Councillors.

b)    Young Essex Assembly/Member of Youth Parliament

Matthew advised that he and Tom had been elected as the Young Essex Assembly Members for Epping Forest. Matthew had also been elected as the Member of Youth Parliament.

AGREED that an update from the Young Essex Assembly and Young Essex Assembly would become a standard item on the agenda.

c)    Loughton Town Council Awards

Louis advised that Youth Councillors had been invited to Loughton Town Council’s Civic Awards, which would be on 1 March 2015, 3pm at Loughton Methodist Church.

To note that the next meeting will be held on Tuesday 3 March 2015  at 19.30 – 21.00 at the Civic Offices.

The next meeting would be held on Tuesday 3 March 2015 from 19.30 – 21.00 at the Civic Offices, Epping.