The Young Mayor and Members of the Youth Council will be attending the meeting to discuss how to get local young people more involved in the Council’s Scrutiny process.

The Chair welcomed the recently elected Young Mayor and a number of Deputy Young Mayors to the meeting

They firstly outlined their manifesto aims with regard to improving the health and wellbeing of young people and bringing together young people and the community to tackle the most pressing issues facing them in the Borough.

Priorities included: taking action to help address knife crime, improving community integration, strengthening engagement between the young people and the Council, promoting healthy lifestyles, raising awareness of mental health issues and support and raising aspirations and awareness of the career opportunities available to local people within Canary Wharf and City Fringe. There would also be a focus on improving the natural and social environment.

The Chair invited the Committee to ask questions of the young representatives, and the following points were noted:

·         The Committee recently carried out a Challenge Session of LBTH communications.  The Committee would welcome the representatives feedback on the report, particularly the plans regarding engagement with young people. The report would be sent to the young people.

·         Members noted the need to reach out to and engage with a wider range of young people. The young people considered that the Council should make greater use of social media platforms, particularly to reach out to ‘hard to reach groups’. The Council could also work with schools to bring visitors to school assemblies.

·         It was also suggested that emphasis should be placed on holding more workshops in schools and youth centres, with The Police in particular. This should help to change attitudes towards crime.

·         The Youth Parliament had made tackling knife a national priority, with the aim of promoting collaborative working across London to   develop a prevention and rehabilitation strategy.

·         When looking at the possible causes of crime, it was important to look at a broad range of factors, rather than focus on issues such as ‘grime music’.

·         Regarding education matters, it was noted that the Deputy Mayor’s Portfolio for the Community covered a wide range of issues including education support.

• There would be a scrutiny session on 30^th April 2019, looking at the issue of school exclusions. The Young representatives were welcomed to attend this meeting and share their views.

·         The young representatives expressed comments about the need for the schools, (especially independent schools) and the Council to work more closely together, on issues particularly effecting young people, such as apprenticeship and employment opportunities. 

·         Support was expressed for greater engagement with young people on the environmental issues, given the increasing importance of this issue. Councillor Perry referred to her role as Cycle Champion and expressed a wish to work with the young representatives on this issue.

In summary, the Chair the praised the work of the Young Mayor and his Team especially the opportunities that it provided to young people.

He also thanked the Young Mayor and Deputies Mayors for attending the meeting and encouraged them and elected Members to engage on future events and initiatives. 

The Chair Moved and it was:

RESOLVED:

That the presentation from the Young Mayor and Deputies be noted: