Agenda and minutes

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

It was noted that Davin would be the Chairman and Abigail would be the Vice-Chairman.

            RESOLVED:

That the minutes of the meeting held on 5 December 2017 be taken as a correct record.

The Chairman informed members that Youth Councillor Blake Doyle had resigned and he took the opportunity to thank Blake for his contribution to the Youth Council and wished him all the best with his studies.

Dawn Roche from the Essex Magistrate would like to speak with Youth Councillors about their services.

A local Magistrate, Dawn Roche gave a short presentation to the Youth Council. She advised that Magistrates were local people, who dealt with criminal cases arising from crime committed in their area, as well as family breakdowns, environmental crime, search warrants, fine enforcement, witness documents and wildlife protection. Their job was to make a decide on the issue or whether an accused person was guilty or innocent and give reasons for their decision, using guidelines and case law to help them. The outcome fell into four areas; discharges, fines, community penalties and prison, with serious offences being sent onto Crown Court.

The Magistrates were now recruiting and details could be found at www.magistrates-association.org.uk . Dawn advised that applicant’s needed to between 17 -70 and asked that Youth Councillors mention this to their parents.

Di to update Youth Councillors on the Youth Council Elections 2018.

Di advised that the Youth Council Election presentations had been arranged for Ongar Academy, West Hatch High School, Roding Valley High School and Epping St John’s School, which would require assistance from Youth Councillors.

ACTION: Youth Councillors attending Braeside School, King Harold Academy, Chigwell School, Debden Park High School and Davenant Foundation School.

The closing date for nomination was Friday 16 February 2018 and any current Youth Councillors, who would be under 18, wishing to re-apply, would need to complete an application form.

The Youth Elections would be held between Monday 5 March – Friday 23 March 2018 and the results would be announced by the Chairman of the Councilon Tuesday 27 March 2018.

Current Youth Councillors official Term of Office would finish in October 2018, although Youth Councillors would be acting as mentors from April-October 2018 and help co-facilitate training and events.

Youth Councillors to report on achievements, events and training that they have accomplished since the last meeting.

Chigwell School – Abigail advised that Di had been into their school to discuss the Drug Survey statistics.

Davenant Foundation School – Fin advised that the suggestion box had been installed and Adam confirmed that when Di had attended a lunch time session, they had increased the amount of Drug Survey’s completed by the School.

Debden Park High School – Jacob and Ashwin asked for paper copies of the Drugs Survey as more people liked to fill in a paper copy, rather than going online.

Epping St John’s School – Annabelle and Marley advised that they were having issues with the display board.

Ongar Academy – Oliver advised that they had recently had the MiLife roadshow and had completed some drug surveys.

Roding Valley High School – Raaj advised that the school was currently having building works completed.

West Hatch High School – Davin advised that Ricco still required his photo for the display board and they were also having building works to increase class rooms.

Di/Abigail to update on the drugs project.

Di advised that the drugs awareness bus advert would be launched on Monday 19 March 2018 and would run until 10 June 2018. The route chosen went through Broxbourne, Cheshunt, Debden, Epping Forest, Hertford, Hoddesdon, Loughton, St Margaret’s, Upshire, Waltham Abbey, Waltham Cross, Ware, Welwyn Garden City and Wormley. The advert would be on 6 buses.

Di advised that the company had not been keen for a photo launch and asked Youth Councillors to consider ways of promoting the campaign. Youth Councillors suggested ‘spot the bus’, ‘selfies with the bus’, most interesting photo with the campaign bus, ‘spotting all the buses’ and ‘where’s the bus?’. Di would investigate some of these suggestions.

ACTION: Di to find out the number and timetable of the bus service and investigate some of the promotion ideas suggested.

Abby advised that the number of completed drugs surveys completed had risen to 2186. Di informed Youth Councillors that paper copies seemed to be more successful and also taking the survey to Insider Roadshow events, held in schools at lunch times. With this in mind, the closing date of the survey had been extended until the end of February, so that Di could take the survey into schools with the Insider Roadshow.

The Insider Roadshow was being held on the following dates;

King Harold Business & Enterprise Academy – 17 January 2018

Roding Valley High School - 24 January 2018

West Hatch High School – 31 January 2018

Ongar Academy – 21 February 2018

Debden Park High School – 28 February 2018.

Di thanked Abby for all her hard work collating the information.

Gaby to advise.

Gaby advised that the winner of the Youth Council Cup was Jacob for his outstanding attendance and commitment. He would join Suzie at the Chairman’s Civic Awards in March 2018.

Gaby advised that two winners would be announced at the next meeting.

Gaby to advise.

Chris was presented with his Jack Petchey Achievement Award for outstanding contributions and commitment to the Youth Conference. He had been invited to attend the Jack Petchey Regional Awards at the Kenneth More Theatre, Oakfield Road, Ilford on Wednesday 7 March 2018.

Di to report.

Di asked the Youth Councillors what media they used when promoting events they had attended for the Youth Council.

Youth Councillors advised that because they were no administrators of the Youth Council Twitter and Facebook pages they were unable to add items.

Di asked ALL Youth Councillors to send any photographs Youth Councillors had of each other and the work they had carried out as a Youth Councillor over their term of office via email or WhatsApp.

Police Cadets – The Youth Councillors decided that the chosen activity would be dodge ball. All Youth Councillors were invited to attend the evening at Davenant School on Tuesday 23 January 2017 at 7.30-9 pm.

Citizens Advice Bureau (CAB) – Youth Councillors agreed that the CAB would attend the next meeting to talk about their work.

WAY 2000 – Youth Councillors had been invited to attend their management meeting in January 2018 at 3.30pm, Brooker Road. Di asked that a Waltham Abbey Youth Councillor attend the meeting. Youth Councillors commented that 3.30pm was not a good time because Youth Councillors had to commute from school.

ACTION: Di to approach Belle and Regan about attending.

Communities Select Committee – Annabelle would attend the next meeting.

Neighbourhood Action Panel – Annabelle, Nina and Fin would attend this meeting.

ACTION: Becky Moreton to confirm the next date.

(a)          Notices by Diane;

(b)          Notices by Becky;

(c)          Any other Notices; and

(d)          Youth Councillor Notices.

(a)                  Notices by Diane;

·                     Youth Council 10^th Anniversary – The bid to hold the 10^th Anniversary celebrations at the Houses of Parliament had been successful. It would be held on 4 July 2018 between 7-9pm. Di advised that there would be a lot of organising to do and that a sub-group would need to be formed to decide details, speeches, music etc.

AGREED that Marley, Abby, Oliver, Jess, Jacob, Chris, Annabelle and Ashwin would be in the sub-group.

A coach would be provided from Epping for the Youth Councillors and new co-hort. The dress code was also discussed and it was AGREED that the Youth Councillors could dress in formal attire but take their Youth Council T-Shirts for photographs.

(b)                  Notices by Gaby;

·                     Epping Forest Strategy Meeting – A new date had been arranged for 22 January 2018 at Loughton Youth Club, Borders Lane, Loughton. AGREED that Zac and Annabelle would attend.

·                     MiLife – The funding from the District Council had been confirmed and £3,000 had been given to support the MiLife Roadshow and £5,000 for other projects.

The Youth Councillors wanted to formally thank Members for supporting their work and funding these important projects.

·                     Communities Select Committee – The Youth Councillor were required to give an annual update to Members at the next Communities Select Committee.

AGREED that Annabelle, Abby, Chris, Lisa, Suzie and Zac would present to Members at the Communities elect Committee on 13 March 2018.

To note that the next meeting will be held on Tuesday 6 February 2018 at 19.00 – 21.00 at the Hemnall Street.

To note that the next meeting would be held on Tuesday 6 February 2018 at 19.00 – 21.00 in the Council Chamber, Civic Offices, Epping.