Agenda item
Motion C: Youth Assembly - Proposed by Councillor Rosie Pearson, Seconded by Councillor Andy Graham.
This Council notes that our 2022 Youth Needs Assessment, identified that 75% of young people were worried about climate change. In the same survey, 46% of those surveyed felt their voice was not heard. The Council also has aspirations that the newly refurbished Council Chamber will become far more of a community space.
This Council believes that action taken to address climate change can also benefit other aspects of young people’s lives, such as mental health, physical fitness and engagement with society. This Council further believes that it would be appropriate to celebrate the refurbishment of our Council Chamber with an event dedicated to the future of our young people.
Council Resolves to:
- Invite all secondary schools and colleges in the District (OR, failing this, those who took part in the Youth Needs Assessment) to nominate 2 or 3 students (preferably elected by the student body, or drawn from the school’s eco-group where one exists) to attend a youth assembly to take part in the council chamber in 2024;
- Ask that Officers, Executive Members and experienced members of the community, agree on questions to be put to the assembly for discussion, and to agree the finer details of the running of the assembly, with the aim being for assembly members to tell the Council how they would address the climate and nature emergency if they were in charge.
Minutes:
Councillor Rosie Pearson introduced the motion, which sought to invite all secondary schools and colleges in the District or those who took part in the Youth Needs Assessment to nominate 2 or 3 students (preferably elected by the student body, or drawn from the school’s eco-group where one exists) to attend a youth assembly to take part in the Council Chamber in 2024.
The motion also sought to ask that Officers and Executive Members agree on questions to be put to the assembly for discussion, and to agree the finer details of the running of the assembly, with the aim being for assembly members to tell the Council how they would address the climate and nature emergency if they were in charge.
In debate, Members stated that the motion reminded them of previous event days at the Council called “Politics in Action”. A number of Members stated their support for the motion and thanked Councillor Pearson for bringing it to Council. It was highlighted that the Council’s Communities team were already working on the project, highlighting the importance of involving local schools and youth establishments, and that further information would be available in due course.
Members queried if the schools of Burford and Cokethorpe in the district had been involved in the process and if they had not, strongly encouraged them to be involved in the future, and as part of the current engagement process going forward. Members also stated that other subjects would be key to discussions, such as climate change.
In seconding the motion, Councillor Andy Graham stated his ongoing desire to engage effectively with communities within the district, and that the subject matter would go some way to help achieve this. Councillor Graham also stated that the engagement process could ultimately entice members of the youth community to consider standing for election to the District Council in the future, and that the process would also act as a catalyst to entice further participation and attendance at meetings of the Council and its Committees.
Councillor Rosie Pearson proposed the motion as set out on the agenda paper, be adopted by Council. Councillor Pearson thanked Members for their contributions and for the support of the Motion. This was seconded by Councillor Andy Graham, was put to a vote, and was unanimously agreed by Council.
Council Resolved to pass the following Motion:
1. This Council notes that our 2022 Youth Needs Assessment, identified that 75% of young people were worried about climate change. In the same survey, 46% of those surveyed felt their voice was not heard. The Council also has aspirations that the newly refurbished Council Chamber will become far more of a community space.
This Council believes that action taken to address climate change can also benefit other aspects of young people’s lives, such as mental health, physical fitness and engagement with society. This Council further believes that it would be appropriate to celebrate the refurbishment of our Council Chamber with an event dedicated to the future of our young people.
Council Resolves to:
- Invite all secondary schools and colleges in the District (OR, failing this, those who took part in the Youth Needs Assessment) to nominate 2 or 3 students (preferably elected by the student body, or drawn from the school’s eco-group where one exists) to attend a youth assembly to take part in the council chamber in 2024;
- Ask that Officers and Executive Members agree on questions to be put to the assembly for discussion, and to agree the finer details of the running of the assembly, with the aim being for assembly members to tell the Council how they would address the climate and nature emergency if they were in charge.