Agenda and minutes

Apologies are noted above.

Councillor Members of the Youth Cabinet are asked whether they have any interest in any item on the agenda and if so, to formally declare that interest.

There were no declarations of interest made at the meeting.

The Minutes of the last meeting held on 9 September 2021 are attached.

The minutes of the meeting held on 9 September 2021 were agreed as a correct record.

MATTERS ARISING

The Youth Members have finished the Help Yourself Course and provided feedback. The Youth Members found the course interesting and helpful, for both young people and adults. It was suggested that the course would have been better if it was delivered in person. 

Heather Walton explained that the Youth Members have put together a terms of reference for Bury’s Youth Mayor. The Youth Mayor will be responsible for chairing Youth Cabinet, supporting Youth Members and attending regional meetings with them. The Youth Members agreed that the Youth Mayor will be in term until the end of April 2023 as they have been elected part way through a year and after this, the Youth Mayor will be in term for 12 months. After the Youth Parliament elections, a Deputy Youth Mayor will be elected. The Deputy Youth Mayor will automatically take the role of the Youth Mayor once their term has finished.

Georgia, Phoebe, Bella and Owen gave a speech of why they should be elected Bury’s Youth Mayor. Phoebe had pre-recorded a speech as unfortunately could not attend the meeting. 

Youth Members voted who they would like to be elected Youth Mayor and it was a tie between Georgia and Owen. The Youth members cast another vote, voting between Georgia and Owen, and it was a tie again. Georgia and Owen decided that the Councillors should make the final decision.

It was agreed:

1. That Georgia is Bury’s Youth Mayor and will be in term until the end of April 2023.
2. The Deputy Youth Mayor will be elected after the Youth Parliament elections.
3. The Deputy Youth Mayor will automatically take the role of the Youth Mayor when their term has finished.

Heather Walton updated members with the progress of the key findings from the Circles of Influence Report. The report has been discussed at the Children’s and Young People’s Strategic Partnership Board; the Board is working through the key findings and recommendations. Heather Walton explained the following progress:

• A takeover day around the PHSE curriculum has been arranged.
• Training for teachers and work with pupils is to be arranged around discriminatory language.
• Heather and Adele are planning an anti-bullying conference for anti-bullying week.
• Heather and Adele have e-mailed schools to see if they can provide workshops in relation to youth violence.
• In terms of accessible activities, the Youth Service is hoping to open a youth club, initially in Radcliffe and then would like to open further youth clubs throughout the borough. The young people will shape the activities at the youth club.
• Tom Horton, Community Safety Manager has spoken with Youth Members about safety and their comments will be built into the neighbourhood plan.
• The Youth Members are waiting on the results from the Bee Well Project before they can do any further work around mental health.
• Youth Cabinet members to discuss homelessness.
• In relation to the environment, an event will take place on Friday 12^th November from 4pm-6pm, this will be an opportunity for young people in Bury to explain what the borough should be doing to tackle climate change. Councillors can attend.

The Takeover Day will be held on Friday 26^th November from 9am-3.00pm in the Council Chamber, to look at the lifespan of a person and give young people chance to explain what they would like the PHSE Curriculum to look like. In the afternoon the young people will meet with decision makers to explain their ideas. Invites have been sent out to all schools.

It was agreed:

1. Youth Cabinet Members to contact Adele and Heather to arrange time off school to attend the event.
2. Councillors can attend the event from 1.30pm to 3.00pm.

A debate took place as to whether the death penalty should be brought back.

There were reasons given for and against the death penalty.

A vote was held, and it was agreed unanimously by members, that they were against the death penalty.

It was agreed:

1. The next debate should be around lowering the voting age to 16.

Adele Crowshaw informed Youth Members that there is an opportunity for 5 Youth Cabinet Members to attend the COP26 Hackathon next Thursday which is being held at the RHS Bridgwater. It is a Greater Manchester event for young people to share their vision and will take place between 10.30am-3.00pm.

Youth members asked Councillors to explain what projects they are currently involved in. Each Councillor explained the work that they have been doing. Discussions took place around:

•       Issues in the community such as potholes, bin collections, drains and trees

•       The different committee Councillors are involved with.

•       A project around speed limits - ’20 is plenty’.

•       The regeneration of the Longfield Centre.

•       The regeneration of Radcliffe.

•       Bury being the Greater Manchester town of culture this year.