Agenda and draft 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 1 April 2025 are attached.

It was agreed:

That the Minutes of the Last meeting be approved as a correct record

It was explained that the Notice of Motion had been reworded and will be presented to Council at its next meeting on 16 July 2025 at 7pm. Samir would be attending to present the motion.

A representative from the Community Safety Partnership Board will attend the meeting in relation top concerns around safety and knife crime.

Chris Woodhouse, Strategic Partnership Manager attended to explain about the work of the Community Safety Partnership (CSP) in Bury.

It was explained that the Council was required by law to have CSP.

The CSP brings together different teams within the Council, Polic, broader justice partners such as the Probation Service, ither blue light organisations, the voluntary sector and the Safeguarding Partnership.

The CSP meets every two months. The Executive Directors are Kate Waterhouse and Chief Superintendent Kirsty Oliver.

The 4 key principles of the CSP were explained as:

·         Prevent – stop from becoming involved in criminology

·         Pursue – How offenders are pursued

·         Protect – ensure the right systems are in place

·         Prepare – make sure the right systems are in place and the right response if anything happens

The CSP produced a Community Safety Plan which set out the priorities as:

•         Tackling offences against children

•         Prevention of, and earlier intervention on, serious violence

•         Domestic abuse in the context of the trio of vulnerability

•         Supporting and safeguarding cohesive communities

•         Ensuring resilient, safer places and spaces

Chris explained that there were many ways that crimes could be reported through reporting and support mechanisms:

• Emergency (999): For immediate threats, violence, or crimes in progress.
• Silent Solutions (999 + 55): For those unable to speak during emergencies.

• Non-Emergency:
  • GMP Live Chat (24/7)
  • Online reporting via GMP and Crimestoppers
  • Phone: 101 or Crimestoppers (0800 555 111)

• Anti-Social Behaviour & Environmental Issues:
  • Report via Bury Council’s online services (e.g., graffiti, drug-related waste, traffic calming).

• Hate Crime:
  • Report through True Vision or Bury Council.
  • Community tension tracking and Hate Crime Reporting Centres available.

• Victim Support:
  • Provided by Catch 22 (contact details and accessibility options included).

It was explained that the CSP wants to ensure that young people are involved in the work of the partnership and the Community Safety Plan by continuing to talk to young people in as many different settings as possible.

Those present were given the opportunity to  ask questions and make comments and the following points were raised:

·         It was asked whether the Circles of Safety would be a recurring event.

Jen Mills explained that an online forum had been launched that would answer concerns and questions and help inform the Community Safety Plan.

·         Tobias referred to Hate Crime and asked what was in place to combat this.

Chris explained that training was being provided to increase awareness of what hate crime is including challenging conversations, and micro aggression and cultures and cultural behaviours. It was explained that reporting of hate crimes was reviewed to look for patterns. There are hate crime reporting centres to support people. The Greater Manchester Hate Crime Plan had been refreshed earlier this year and Bury’s would be refreshed soon.

It was explained that the Elton High School had completed an excellent piece of work in relation the hate crime.

It was hoped that there would be a group of young people established to work in relation to hate crime.

Violet explained that she  ...  view the full minutes text for item YC.5

Inspector Mike Barton will be in attendance at the meeting.

Chief Inspector Michael Barton from Bury Police attended the meeting.

It was explained that Chief Inspector Barton would be attending every meeting of the Youth Cabinet to meet with the young people and discuss issues and report on the work that was being undertaken across the borough.

It was explained that GMP were carrying out targeted activity in relation to knife crime and retail crime and were looking at neighbourhood problem solving by carrying out engagement.

Chief Inspector Barton asked what the number 1 priority for Bury would be and the following concerns were raised:

·         Violent crime/knife crime

·         Market crime during market days

·         Violent crime in St Paul’s area

·         Community policing

·         CCTV

·         Chesham Woods area

·         Metrolink incidents – violence and drug use

It was agreed:

1.    That the Youth Cabinet would have an input into the Community Safety Plan

2.    That Chief Inspector Barton be thanks for his attendance at this and future meetings of the Youth Cabinet

It was reported that the Informal Youth Cabinet would be discussing the Circles of Influence at its next meeting

An update will be provided from the Bury Youth MP.

Samir reported that he had been invited by Baroness Keeley to talk to the Media Literacy Executive Committee about better funding.

Samir had also visited the office of MP Christian Wakeford in London.

It was agreed:

That Samir be thanked for the update

An update will be given at the meeting.

It was reported that there had been discussions in relation to the Ourpass and the advertising and naming of it.

It was asked if GMYCA could be contacted regarding U16’s.

Councillor Haroon asked what was happening with the vape project  and it was explained that schools can loan the sculpture and the education package that goes with it.

Councillor Haroon also asked how many organisations would be involved in the kite mark co-production and it was explained that 3 could be involved at any one time.

It was agreed

That the update be noted.

An update will be given at the Meeting.

It was reported that four members of the Youth Cabinet: Bury’s Youth Mayor Violet, Bury’s Deputy Member of Youth Parliament Kael, Tobias and Duncan had been invited to take part in the Civic service in commemoration of VE day 80.

The Youth Cabinet had read out stories of young people affected by VE day and a poem that had been written by the youth groups to commemorate the event.

The church had been full and the reaction to their input had been excellent.

It was agreed

That those involved be thanked for their input and attendance.

Should cannabis be legalised?

Youth Cabinet members took part in the debate, there was a side for and against.

It was agreed:

that cannabis should not be legalised