Agenda and minutes

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.

Councillor Dean declared an interest in Bury Council, as his partner’s employer.

The Minutes of the last meeting held on 3 November 2022 are attached.

The minutes of the meeting held on 3 November 2022 were agreed as an accurate record and signed by the Chair.

There were no matters arising.

Daniel reported that he attended a Youthforia event on Sunday 4^th December 2022 with other young people from across the North West. The event was held in Oldham and was focused on the Steering Group elections and the environment. Daniel reported that no one from Bury ran in the Steering Group election. In relation to the environment, topics around oil, being more sustainable and plastic was discussed. Daniel explained that he took part in an exercise called ‘plant a promise’ where they wrote a promise on a piece of paper, put seeds inside and planted it.

Daniel reported that Youth Focus North West and going to run a regional ‘make your mark’ campaign, which will take place yearly.

The last Youth Council meeting was held in London at the House of Commons, Youth Parliament Members from across the country were invited to attend to debate on the top issues from the ‘make your mark’ campaign. The cost of living crisis was the topic that won the debate and will be the focus of campaigns for the next 2 years.

It was agreed:

1. Cost of living crisis to be added to the next agenda.

Heather Walton, Youth Participation Worker reported that Lindsay Dennis, Children’s Partnership Development Officer has looked at the actions from the key findings to see where they fit within the Children’s Strategic Partnership Board (CSPB). Discussions will take place with the sub-group leaders of the Board. The outcome and priorities from the Circles of Influence Event are being picked up by the CSPB Outcomes Framework task and finish group, so that young people’s priorities are included in the performance framework.

All members of the Youth Cabinet were invited to take part in the Christmas quiz. There were various rounds of the quiz including finding the elves, a picture round, a music round and a general knowledge round.

Courtney won finding the elves and the individual quiz.

Josh won the quick-fire quiz round.

All Youth Cabinet Members were invited to take part in the debate, there was a side for and against whether it should be made illegal to put up Christmas decorations before Halloween.

It was agreed with a majority vote that it should be made illegal to put up Christmas decorations before Halloween.

It was agreed:

1. The next debate will be ‘should the House of Lords be abolished’.
2. Youth Members to research the debate topic prior to the next meeting.

Heather Walton asked Members if they had anything that they would like to add to the next Youth Cabinet agenda.

A Youth Member raised that they would like transport to be discussed at the next meeting due to buses not arriving when the weather is bad and therefore being late for school.

A Member suggested inviting the new Chief Executive to a Youth Cabinet meeting when they have settled into their post, to give a presentation of their plans for young people in the borough, to hold to account and use this opportunity to promote the Youth Cabinet in schools to gain new Youth Members. Youth Members discussed the appointment of the new Chief Executive, and it was felt that young people should have been involved in the recruitment exercise.

Heather Walton, Youth Participation Worker highlighted that the green roofed bus project was stopped by Transport for Greater Manchester but has since been informed that the Metrolink may allow for a similar project. Discussions took place around the discretionary grant money that Councillors had donated to support the green roofed bus stop project being taken from the Youth Service budget as a saving.

It was agreed:

1. To invite Councillor A Quinn to the next Youth Cabinet meeting to discuss transport issues.
2. Daniel to contact the Metrolink in relation to a green project at a station.
3. Adele Crowshaw and Kelly Barnett to look into the issue raised around the discretionary grant monies donated for the green roofed bus stop project.