Agenda and minutes

At the last meeting it was agreed that Stacey would chair this meeting. Imogen would be Vice-Chairman.

Noted that Stacey would chair the meeting and Imogen would be the Vice-Chairman.

Di introduced the Youth Council to Lexy Doherty who had recently been appointed to assist Di Butler in the running of the Youth Council. Youth Councillor introduced themselves spoke about why they had stood for Council.

To confirm the minutes of the last meeting of the Youth Council are correct.

            RESOLVED:

That the minutes of the meeting held on 3 July 2012 were agreed as a correct record.

Sarah Kirk and Jennifer Cordell will make a short presentation on the Local Plan.

Amanda Thorn from the Councils Forward Planning Team attended the meeting to speak about the current community issues and options consultation on the future local plan. The consultation ran from 30 July until 15 October. The document was not a policy document but was intended to provide an opportunity for discussion and debate about the future of the district.

The consultation sought views of the public on the options for growth, use of green belt, economic development, housing, transport and infrastructure that would considered as part of the ongoing local plan process.

With the population rising, more home would be needed and projections being tested were increases of an additional 6,400 to 10,200 house numbers over the next twenty years.

Amanda explained to the Youth Council that there were options for growth around Harlow and the consultation document also showed areas around each town/village were house growth might be possible. These were linked to a discussion around the possible distribution of this new housing. For example whether it should equally distributed or focussed around transport links or larger towns.

Amanda encouraged Councillors to participate in the consultation and help spread the message to younger people as local housing (or the lack of it) would affect them to a greater extent.

Youth Councillors had the opportunity of questioning Amanda and raised questions around:

·                Whether there would be changes to the transport infrastructure to support new development? – There was nothing definite but the authority would need to work with transport providers about the transport needs of new developments and build these in as a condition.

·                Whether a whole new town would be built? – there had previously been no support for this idea which would in any event need a lot of land to construct.

·                What criteria there would be for regeneration of areas? – The council would look at where the problems existed e.g. vacant shops in Waltham Abbey and look at helping those areas within the new policy document.

·                Whether it was proposed that any recreational areas would be used? – no forest land was included at all – it was protected by an act of parliament. No recreation areas had been highlighted although if proposed the Council would consider area ‘swaps’ as part of development.

·                Whether further leisure facilities would form part of the plan – the Council would look at existing facilities and work to a longer term approach to provide other facilities.

The youth Council offered to assist in Forward Planning getting access to youth peoples view through the schools and offered to work with Amanda to distribute leaflets and posters about the consultation. Amanda also suggested coming back to a later meeting, before the next lot of consultations to see how the Council could help further.

Agreed:

(1)               That Stacey, Evie, Jaymey, Hamzah, Carina, Olivia and Grace help Forward Planning in getting access to schools to publicise the consultation exercise; and

(2)               That Amanda come to a meeting in advance of the  ...  view the full minutes text for item 38.

The documents attached for the Dog Control Order outline the consultation, which will run from 2 August 2012 to 2 October 2012. All responses can be either filled out online following the email address below or hand written and sent to Diane.

www.eppingforestdc.gov.uk/index.php/component/eventlist/details/3454-dog-control-orders-consultation

The Youth Council discussed proposals made by the Council to introduce Dog control Orders (DCO’s) on public land within the district.

In generally supporting the proposals the Youth Council raised a number of additional points for the consideration of the Council before making the orders. These were:

(1)        If the powers are to be introduced, members were of the view that there needs to be effective enforcement. Anecdotally Youth Councillors were aware of areas where fouling control already existed, around public open spaces used by young people, where dog owners already flouted the rules. They questioned whether the District would be able to put in place cost effective meaningful enforcement which would deter fouling.

(2)        The areas being covered would be much wider than those currently covered and the Youth Council were concerned that the orders would place a greater burden on the current Enforcement Officers.

(3)        The Council should give consideration to those areas where there will be the greatest effect on dog walkers (these areas will already be known to the Council) and provide sufficient dog bin facilities to encourage use.

(4)        The Council currently provided free waste bags for residents. They should also provide free or subsidised dog poo bags for use by dog walkers.

It was agreed that the secretary compose a letter to the Environment and Neighbourhoods Manager taking into account these points to that adult members were made aware of the views of the Youth Council in any report on the subject.

Agreed:

Mr Hill to compose letter to the Environment and Neighbourhoods Manager.

Diane to report.

Di thanked those members who had volunteered to sit on this Group. It had been agreed that the number of seats on this group for youth councillor had been increased to three and Aaron, Carina and Jaymey would join the group. Other opportunities around this group would be forthcoming.

The next meeting was in September so a report would be made to the October meeting.

Jaymey and Aaron to report.

Jaymey reported that all members had now received the aims of the project and questionnaire. These were for circulating at the schools with a deadline being set as 30 October 2012. St Johns, Davenant and Braeside schools were all participating.

It was intended to get an idea across the area about views of bus transport. These would be fed back to Essex County Council and Bus Operators with a review in November. Each Bus Operator would be written to

Olivia asked for forms for Roding Valley and Iffah for Forest School.

Further reports would be made to later meetings on progress.

Ella, Carina, Sam to report.

Mystery shopping of local youth facilities was ongoing and youth councillors were collecting data. Some youth groups had yet to be visited.

This years awards would be held on 30 October with an overall winner with a 2^nd and 3^rd place also awarded. Each would get a certificate and small award.

Youth Councillors discussed problems experienced at one particular provider during recent visits.

Aaron to report.

Agreed that Simon would facilitate a further session on using Twitter. Simon read out tweets received during the meeting.

Jaymey and Edward wanted to start a Facebook page for the Youth Council and agreed to come back once they had investigated how this would work.

Action:

Jaymey and Edward to report back on Facebook page.

Members to update on their school suggestion boxes.

Di reported that the new suggestion boxes were now in her office ready for collection and placing in schools.

Diane to report.

Noted that Lexi would be putting together the newsletter and needed content from Councillors.

To considered any new submission forms.

Noted that a request had been made by the Young Essex Assembly to come to the next meeting as they needed help in distributing YEA candidate information in schools.

Agreed:

That the YEA attend the October meeting.

Diane to award the Youth Council Cup Award.

The award for Youth Councillor of the quarter was awarded to Ella for her commitment to running the Mystery Shopping project.

Ella (right) receiving her award from previous winner Carina.

(i)                  To agree a Imogen as Chairman for the next meeting; and

(ii)                Members to raise items of business for consideration at the next meeting.

(a)        Agreed that Imogen Chair the next meeting.

(b)        Aaron to report on Community Safety Training

(c)        Report on further mystery shopping;

(d)        Facebook page

(e)        Allocation of Jack Petchey funds – potential for team building event – email Di with ideas before next meeting.

(a)        Notices by Diane & Simon;

(a)        Meeting with Eleanor Laing MP – Evie reported that Eleanor had been unable to make the dates suggested and a new date was now needed.

(b)        Ian Almond was attending the next meeting to talk about recycling at the Civic Offices.

(c)        Noted that St Johns Church would be holding a Christmas Tree festival in December – suggestions for a theme to decorate a Youth Council tree were invited.

(d)        Noted that Youth Councillors had been invited to attend an Air Training Corps event at North Weald Airfield on 22 September 2012 at 7.30 pm. Di would circulate details for those wishing to attend.

To note that the next meeting will be held on Tuesday 9 October 2012 at 19.00 – 21.00 Civic Offices.

Next meeting 9 October 2012, Chamber, Epping 7.00 p.m. – 9.00 p.m.