Agenda and minutes

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

It was noted that Archie would be the Chairman and James would be the Vice-Chairman for this meeting.

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

            RESOLVED:

That the minutes of the meeting held on 11 December 2018 were a correct record.

Following the reorganisation of the Council’s Executive responsibilities, Councillor S. Kane the Community & Partnership Services Portfolio Holder would be the Cabinet member responsible for the Youth Council.

Officer and Youth Councillors thanked Councillor H. Kane, as their previous Portfolio Holder for all the support and guidance she had given to the Youth Council.

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

Braeside Independent School – Exam results had been issued and pupils were to receive an e-safety talk.

Chigwell School – The pupils had only just returned from the Christmas holidays.  

Davenant Foundation School – Issues concerning the toilet facilities had been reported to the School Council and pupils were monitoring the situation.

Year 10 pupils had received a talk regarding eating disorders.

Roding Valley High School – The school had raised the largest single donation for the Foodbank and the Head Girl had been interviewed on Heart Radio.

Parents’ evenings and options for year 9 pupils were beginning.

West Hatch High School – Had recently returned to school and year 11 had parents’ evenings.

Youth Councillors to feedback on any events that they have attended in relation to the Youth Council since the last meeting.

Youth Councillors advised each other, what events they had attended since the last meeting;

·                     The Chairman’s Business Networking Event – Arjun, Eleanor, Tallula and Jyoti attended the event, which was held at the Civic Offices.

·                     Christmas Social – Everyone who attended, enjoyed the laser tag and glow golf.

·                     Communities Select Committee – Stanimir attended as the Youth Council representative. The District Chief Inspector Lewis Basford, District Commander for Brentwood and Epping Forest Community Policing Team gave a presentation on the current policing and crime issues in the District. Stanimir informed members about the drugs survey and project work which the Youth Council had recently completed.

Chief Inspector Basford asked for a copy of the report and survey findings to be sent to him and that he would be happy to attend a future Youth Council meeting.

·                     Epping Neighbourhood Action Panel – Archie had attended the meeting.

·                     MiLife Filming – Rene and fellow Youth Councillors had been involved in filming process for short awareness videos.

·                     Young Essex Assembly (YEA) Election – Daniel, Eleanor and Jyoti had been elected. Arjun had not been successful on this occasion, although he had been asked to be a non-voting member of the YEA.

·                     Christmas by Candlelight – Youth Councillors had attended the Chairman’s Carol Service at Waltham Abbey Church and Daniel Mehr had given a reading.

Youth Councillors to update on their projects.

Project Updates

The next project would address young people’s safety and create a Street Survival guide. It had been discussed that five short clips could be made through YouTube working with a film maker at the Red Balloon Family. The clips would provide scenarios and advice to young people. Officers had met with the Safer Communities Manager, who advised that young people needed to report crimes either to the Police or through Crimestoppers, so that the correct authorities could have a better understanding of the issues and could direct funding.

Officers suggested using an acrostic such as SAFER and hashtags.

The suggested launch date for this project was 9 April 2019.

Youth Activities Map

Offices asked for any further youth groups to be reported to them for inclusion in the district activity map and for Youth Councillors to take photographs of the building or signage, for the interactive map.

Youth Councillors to consider the attached.

Di advised that Epping Town Council were trying to encourage more families and young people to shop at Epping’s Monday Market.

They asked Youth Councillors to answer the following questions;

a) What would encourage the younger residents of Epping to use the market?

b) What would make young families use the market?

c) What attractions and entertainment could we offer?

d) What would encourage younger traders to join the market as traders?

The information was required by 1 March 2019.

Youth Councillors advised that to attract young people the market needed to be open after the school day had ended, which currently was not the case.

ACTION: Florence advised that she would produce a survey for her school and other Youth Councillors to take into their schools.

Youth Councillors to agree the attached 2018-20 Manifesto.

AGREED:

That the Youth Council Manifesto attached at Appendix 1 be approved. 

To present the Youth Council Cup.

Gaby advised that Stanimir had won the Youth Council Cup for his passion, attendance, being a good communicator and ambassador for the Youth Council. Stanimir would be attending the Chairman’s Civic Awards in March 2019.

The Community and Partnership Services Portfolio Holder, Councillor S. Kane presented Stanimir with the Youth Council Cup.

To present the Jack Petchey Award.

Officers asked Youth Councillors to nominate one of their fellow Youth Councillors and the winner would be announced at the next meeting.

Officers advised that the following requests had been put forward to attend future meetings;

·                     Citizens Advice (CA) Epping Forest District – Nnenna Anyanwu had asked to attend a future meeting to explain what the service provided for young people.

AGREED that officers would invite CA to the next meeting in February 2019.

·                     Samaritans – The charity would like to attend a future meeting to advise the Youth Council what services they provided and volunteering opportunities.

·                     Harlow Youth Council (HYC) – HYC would like to attend the meeting in March and invite the Youth Council to their meeting in April 2019.

AGREED that officers would contact them.

·                     YEA – YEA would like to attend a future meeting.

AGREED that officers would contact them.

·                     Equal Arts – A member of the charity would like to attend to talk about the Hen Power Project. 

AGREED that officers would contact them.

Active Living, Epping Forest District Council to attend.

Erza Folan, Health and Wellbeing Officer attended the meeting to advise Youth Councillors about the Active Living Programme.

This service provided support, advice and activities run by the Council to improve the health of the districts residents for ages 18 and above.  Further details could be found at:

http://www.eppingforestdc.gov.uk/index.php/out-and-about?id=1414

Currently, the Council provided Football activities for 7 – 11 years olds at Oakwood Hill.

(a)          Notices by Diane;

(b)          Notices by Paula;

(c)          Any other notices; and

(d)          Youth Councillor notices.

Notices by Di

(a)          Chairman’s Charity – Youth Councillors discussed the youth groups /charities which they would raise funds for and nominate to the Chairman for consideration.

(b)          Chairman’s Charity Quiz – This would be held on 1 February 2019 at Theydon Bois, Village Hall. Teams of 8 were required, refreshments could be brought to the event and it was £5 per person.

AGREED that Youth Councillors would confirm attendance, a team name, a fancy dress theme via the WhatsApp group.

Notices by Gaby

(c)          Attendance – All Youth Councillors attendance would be continued to be monitored and the procedure for notifying officers on the Friday before a meeting for Taxi’s had been working well.

Notices by Paula

(d)          Diaries Dates – Details of future meetings, events and training had been sent out to all Youth Councillors.

To note that the next meeting will be held on Tuesday 12 February at 19.00 – 21.00. The venue will be confirmed nearer the time due to the Public Examination taking place at the Civic Offices on this date.

To note that next meeting would be held on Tuesday 12 February 2019 at 19.00- 21.00 in the Canteen at the Civic Offices.