Broxbourne Youth Council

Wednesday 11 September 2019 Broxbourne Council Offices

Attendees : Chris Bakalis (Chair), Lloyd Evans, Alicia Hall, Tate Lambie, Cindy Long, Robbie Long, Gabriella Newallo-Ragbir, Rowan Quant, Noah Tucker, Dylan Ways and Ethan Yardley.

Facilitators : Steve Whitlam and Emma Elsafty (Broxbourne Borough Council)

Guests: Cllr Aran Banks

Apologies: Thomas Jennings

Minutes of Youth Council meeting held on 28th August 2019

Agreed as an accurate record of the meeting.

Chris reminded people of the raffle prizes that had been donated to raise funds for the Youth Mayor’s charities. These include wine, family ticket to Paradise Wildlife Park, chocolate, beauty sets etc. Chris proposed that Youth Council members sell the tickets as well at Youth Council meetings. The raffle will be held at a future Youth Council meeting. The cost is £1 per strip.

Elections

• Elections will take place on 25 th September with each candidate giving a four minute speech as to why they should be elected. • It was agreed to remove the Social Secretary position • It was agreed to create a new position of Youth Council Cabinet Member for the Environment. • It was agreed that candidates could apply for the Youth Mayor role. If unsuccessful they could apply for the Deputy Youth Mayor role. If unsuccessful they could apply for one Cabinet Member position • Members of the Youth Council do not have to run for office if they decide not to. • The posts were confirmed as: Youth Mayor Deputy Youth Mayor Youth Cabinet Member for Transport Youth Cabinet Member for Health} Youth Cabinet Member for Schools Youth Cabinet Member for Leisure and Social Youth Cabinet Member for the Environment • Chris agreed to circulate job descriptions for each position (attached to these minutes) • Members were asked to let Steve know in advance as to what positions they wished to apply for. • Members can do a Powerpoint presentation if they wish. • Cllr Banks thought there were possibilities to link the Youth Council Cabinet members with the Broxbourne Council Cabinet members e.g. accompanying them to events, feeding in the views of young people etc.

Open Evenings at Schools

• Members of the Youth Council promoted the Youth Council at the recent Open Evening at the John Warner School. • Goffs School have agreed that the Youth Council can have a stand at their Open Evening on 19 September • Mr Newman (Principal at ) has agreed that the Youth Council can have a presence at the Haileybury Turnford Open Evening on 24 September. • Chris will arrange representatives via the Youth Council Whatsapp group. • Additional flyers are required which Steve will organise. • Not all schools have responded yet on this matter. St Mary’s asked a number of questions to which Chris answered but there has been no further communication.

Broxbourne Association of Secondary School Heads (BASSH)

• The next meeting in on 1 October. Mr de La Croix (Head at Robert and chair of BASSH) has invited Chris to attend. Chris asked the group to identify issues to raise. The group suggested: • Recycling; • the Democracy Ambassadors scheme, • teaching politics in schools / engagement with political issues e.g mock general elections • The group discussed their schools’ approach to recycling and the consensus was that it was varied and not very well communicated to pupils. • It was also agreed that Chris should ask BASSH as to what they would like the Youth Council to help them with / focus upon.

Social Media

• The Youth Council’s Instagram account has been created. • They will retain the Twitter feed as it works well for connecting with and highlighting the work of partners (Instagram works better at connecting with young people and seeking their views). • Emma gave some advice about setting up the Instagram account as a verified business account. • With the removal of the Social Secretary role, it was agreed that the social media feeds would be managed by consensus by the Youth Council Cabinet. Steve offered to work with them to develop guidelines to avoid awkward situations in the future.

HB Accountants Networking Group

Chris explained that HB Accountants have set up a new networking group for young people in Yr 11 and Sixth Form. The aim is to create opportunities for work experience, volunteering and skills development. Chris was unable to attend the first meeting on 5 September. Steve suggested inviting them to a future Youth Council meeting to explain their plans

Climate Group

Following the discussion at the last Youth Council, Chris explained that the Climate Group who had contacted him were part of the Global Student Climate Change movement. The group are now focussing their efforts in Bishops Stortford on 20 September. Discussion was had about the Youth Council running an environmental awareness event in 2020. It was agreed that it needed to have a focus, particularly on a local issue, and clear objectives. Cllr Banks suggested that it could focus on the A10 air pollution issue. Steve suggested tree planting schemes or litter picking. Other suggestions included promoting walking or cycling to school – Cllr Banks suggested this could begin immediately via social media.

Emma suggested that Chris could promote the Daily Mile to the BASSH meeting especially as there is an evidence base that physical activity enhances academic achievement.

Youth Conference / Young People’s Survey

• YC Hertfordshire have produced a draft Young People’s Survey which they hope to complete and launch in October. • The findings of the survey will then shape the priorities for any future conference as well as the focus of work by the Youth Council / YC Herts and others in the local area. • The Youth Council offered to run roadshows to promote the survey to young people in their schools / communities.

Consent Form (for imagery/videos)

• These were distributed and members were encouraged to get their parents to complete them and being to the next meeting.

A.O.B

• Rowan explained that this was his last Youth Council meeting before going to University in London. Everyone wished him the best for the future, thanked him for the contribution he has made to the Youth Council and informed him that he would be welcome at future meetings during holiday periods. • Chris reported that Love are looking to establish a youth group containing representatives from the Youth Council, John Warner School and Mayhem Theatre Arts. Chris asked for 1-2 people to put themselves forward for this role. The first meeting is scheduled for 24 September. • Love Hoddesdon / Broxbourne Council are looking for volunteers to work on the Hoddesdon Loves Christmas event on 30 November from 10am to 4:30pm. Anyone interested should contact Tom Culley directly on [email protected] • Members of the Youth Council asked Cllr Banks about his political life and career and recommendations on how to get involved in local politics. His responses were helpful and very much appreciated by the whole group. • Discussion was had about the Queen Eleanor square in Waltham Cross. Cllr Banks reported that he had only heard positive comments about the new square. • The group wanted further social activities.

Next Youth Council meeting:

Wednesday 25 September at 7pm at the Broxbourne Council offices