Agenda and minutes

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

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

To confirm the minutes of the last meeting of the Youth Council are correct.

            RESOLVED:

That the minutes of the meeting held on 12 May 2015 be taken as correct record.

To receive any updates on the Project Groups;

1.    Youth Debate

2.    Environment

1.            Debate

Di advised that the date of the debate would be confirmed once the local MP, Eleanor Laing had confirmed.

Roding Valley and Davenant had expressed interest in the Debate and other Youth Councillors were to pursue teachers after the exam period, to confirm the schools interest in attending.

ACTION: Jaymey to contact Eleanor Laing’s Office to confirm the date in October.

2.         Environment Project

The volunteering day with the City of London on the Chingford Plain scheduled for the end of the summer holidays had been moved to the 28 October 2015.

Di advised following the recycling trip to Biffa depot, five members of staff from Biffa would attend the volunteering day along with Councillor Mohindra a member of the Youth Engagement Review Task and Finish Panel.

Matthew advised that the previous volunteering exercise carried out last year with the City of London looked really good and made a noticeable difference to the area.

Youth Councillors to report.

Matthew advised that the Youth Councillors represented 12,000 young people in the District and that the Facebook page had only 400 likes, which needed to improved.

Following Jaymey’s request to place this item on the agenda, officers had consulted Public Relations about paid sponsorship such as Facebook to publise the Youth Council to young people in the District and with further confirmation on costs this could be progressed. Matthew also advised that local celebrities who lived in the District could similarly be approached through Twitter, to encourage young people to ‘like’ the Youth Council page.. 

Youth Councillors to report on Events they have attended since the last meeting.

1.            Recycling Centre Visit

Evie advised that nine Youth Councillors attended the tour around the recycling centre in Edmonton, where they explained the operation of the centre and what could and could not be recycled. The recycling centre would like to work with the Youth Council to promote recycling in all schools in the District.

2.            Dementia Friend Training

Rory advised that the Youth Council had received advise and training on Dementia awareness and the many ways it could effect people. Youth Councillors found the training very interesting and were asked to make pledges, which included wearing a dementia friend badge, visit a person with dementia or give a talk within their school about dementia.

Di advised that Councillor Sartin had congratulated the Youth Council on becoming Dementia friends through Twitter.

Youth Councillors wanted to Thank Sarah Bellairs for the training. 

3.            Davenant School Assembly – Volunteering

Joe and Julie advised that they had completed an assembly about volunteering opportunities for young people to year 9 pupils. Joe advised that they had received positive feedback from pupils who attended wanting to find out more information.

Jaymey and Matthew to report.

Matthew advised that they had completed a presentation regarding the Youth Council, past and present, which had been well received by the Panel. Members of the Panel had raised concerns about how the Youth Council communicated to young people in the District who were not pupils at the schools. They also advised that approaching Town and Parish Councils would further promote the Youth Council.

Gill congratulated Matthew and Jaymey for the presentation and the ability to answer all questions asked of them at the meeting.  

Matthew/Tom to report.

Matthew advised that the YEA were launching their Green Pledge Award Scheme, which encouraged schools to do their bit for the environment and sign up to reduce food waste.

Matthew to report.

Matthew advised that the ‘Make your Mark’ campaign would be starting shortly. Young people would be asked to vote on 10 issues that affected young people, which would result in the top 5 being debated in House of Commons by the Youth Parliament. Matthew had been asked to distribute 600 ballot papers and asked if Youth Councillors could help by taking them into their schools. He had written letters to all the secondary schools, asking them for their support.

ACTION: Youth Councillors to deliver the letter to their Head Teachers.

Youth Councillors to report.

Olivia advised that the Braeside’s school council had not been re-elected at present because of exams.

Matthew advised that Roding Valley had elected their school council and had their first meeting. They had decided to move their suggestion box to a more visible position within the school. Matthew and Doncho were going to give some training to the school council from their experience as Youth Councillors and their first guest speaker would be Di.

Julie advised that they had completed the volunteering assembly at Davenant School.

1.            Councillor Surtees

Councillor Surtees had asked to meet with the Youth Council.

AGREED that Councillor Surtees would be invited to the meeting on Tuesday 8 September 2015.

i)              The Chairman for the next meeting would be Drew and the Vice Chairman would be Malachi.

ii)             The meeting on 7 July 2015 had been cancelled to enable all Youth Councillors to attend Youth Justice Awareness Training on 14 July 2015.

iii)            Intergenerational event to be arranged in the Christmas School Holidays 2015.

(a)          Notices by Diane;

(b)          Notices by Louis;

(c)          Any other Notices; and

(d)          Youth Councillor Notices.

(a)                  Notices by Louis

·                     It’s a Knock Out – Youth Councillors were welcome to enter a team of 10 into the Loughton Town Council ‘It’s a Knock out’ on 19 July 2015. Any one interested in entering should contact Louis.

·                     Jack Petchey Training Programme – Louis advised that one previous winner of the Jack Petchey Award could apply for the chance of positive life changing training. This would require the commitment of attending a residential on 28 August  and 9 -11 October 2015 for training. Applicants were asked only to apply if they could attend these dates.

ACTION: Joe, Matthew, Leonora and Julie if interested, to complete the application form and return to Di by Tuesday 23 June 2015.

(b)                  Notices by Di

·                     Volunteering Assembly – Di advised that West Hatch’s assembly would be on 14 September 2015.

ACTION: Leonora and Rory, to speak to a teacher at St John’s to arrange a date for the Volunteering assembly.

·                     Suggestion Cards – Di asked for all cards when received to be handed straight to her or Louis to be dealt with.

·                     Arrival Times – Di asked Youth Councillors to arrive no earlier than 10 minutes before a meeting.

·                     Away Day 17 August 2015 – Di advised that Lambourne End was fully booked. Youth Councillors were asked for other ideas which included Harlow Outdoors, white water rafting in Waltham Abbey.

ACTION: Rory to investigate activities for the away day and notify Di and Louis.

·                     Think Big O2 – Di asked Youth Councillors to think about projects to put forward for the Think Big O2 funding.

·                     Jack Petchey Award – Both Louis and Gill had been nominated and awarded Jack Petchey Awards. The Youth Council congratulated them both.

To note that the next meeting will be held on Tuesday 7 July 2015 at 19.30 – 21.00 at the Civic Offices.

The meeting on Tuesday 7 July 2015 had been cancelled for Youth Councillors to attend the Youth Justice Awareness Training on Tuesday 14 July 2015. A short briefing would be held at 6 pm at the Civic Offices.

The next meeting would be held on Tuesday 8 September 2015 at the Civic Offices.