PRESS RELEASE
Issued by:
Councillor Tom Harney
Date of Issue: Oct 17th 2006
Contact number: 0151 327 2146

VOICE OF YOUTH AT HISTORIC MEETING

Young people were yesterday given their voice in Wirral's corridors of power when they met with councillors for an historic Youth Parliament.

Councillor Tom Harney , Liberal Democrat Children's Services Spokesperson, who proposed the meeting said,

“The work of Wirral Council in involving young people in its work took a huge step forward when it welcomed a large number of young people to its meeting, and listened to their views and ideas. We now have the task of putting together an action plan to take forward the ideas of the young people. I was particularly impressed with the obvious commitment of young people to work with the council to make Wirral a better place to live.”

Following an all-day event of workshops and discussions, young people from all over Wirral sat down with councillors to talk about the issues that concern them. The meeting then moved into Wirral's Council Chamber where young people had the opportunity to fire questions at members of Wirral Council's Cabinet.

Timed to coincide with Local Democracy Week, the meeting was the outcome of a proposal made by Councillor Harney and agreed by Wirral Council in December 2005 to involve young people in decision-making and ensure that their voice is heard.

Text of motion agreed at Full Council 19 December 2005
Minute Decision :
Resolved -
(1) This Council recognises the work that is being done to enable young people to participate in the work of the Council. In particular it congratulates all those who were involved in the writing of the “Charter for Participation".
(2) It recommends that the Evaluation and Action Plan be used in planning the future work of all committees, including area forums.
(3) Council asks that the training issues raised by the Charter be incorporated in the training and development programme for members.

(4) It resolves that there be a special Council meeting, or similar event, to focus on young people and ensure that their voice is heard in the forthcoming municipal year.

Moved by: Councillor Tom Harney
Seconded by: Councillor P L Davies