Issue - meetings

Report of Head of Legal and Democratic Services

Summary

To update Members on the progress to date of the scrutiny review of Youth Engagement and to consider the emerging conclusions.

Recommendations

The Overview and Scrutiny Committee is recommended to:

(1)               Note the contents of the report and reflect on the evidence of the review to date;

(2)               Consider and comment on the emerging conclusions.

The Chairman introduced the three pupils from Banbury School who were observing the meeting as part of their involvement in the Councillor Shadowing programme.

Prior to the meeting the Scrutiny Officer had circulated a first draft of the Committee report on Youth Engagement.  The Committee made some comments on the text of the draft report and asked that a revised draft be circulated in advance of their next meeting; copies should also be sent to the councillors and Banbury school pupils involved in the Councillor Shadowing programme.

The Banbury School pupils informed the Committee that they were confident that fellow pupils would be interested in participating in topical debates (which could be held at the school or hosted by the Council at Bodicote House).  The Banbury School pupils said that they believed that take up would be greater if the Local Democracy Week activities were extended throughout the year and given greater advance publicity.

The Committee invited the Banbury School pupils to attend their February meeting to participate in further discussions on youth engagement in local democracy.  The Scrutiny Officer confirmed that a member of the UK Youth Parliament and youth workers from the County Council would be at the next meeting.  The Committee asked the Scrutiny Officer to invite some additional guests, senior County Council officers working in youth services, to the next meeting, recognising that this might prove difficult given the short notice.

Finally the Chairman explained that there would be a private briefing session in advance of the next meeting and asked Members to forward any questions or topics for discussion to the Scrutiny Officer.

Resolved

1)              That the Banbury School pupils involved in the Councillor Shadowing programme be invited to the February meeting of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee.

2)              That senior County Council officers working in youth services be invited to the February meeting of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee.

3)              That Members of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee be asked to forward any questions or topics for discussion on youth engagement to the Scrutiny Officer.

Report of Head of Legal and Democratic Services

Summary

To update Members on the progress to date of the scrutiny review of Youth Engagement and to consider the emerging conclusions.

Recommendations

The Overview and Scrutiny Committee is recommended to:

(1)               Note the contents of the report and reflect on the evidence of the review to date;

(2)               Consider and comment on the emerging conclusions.