Agenda and minutes

Christopher would be the Chairman for this meeting and Blake would be the Vice-Chairman.

It was noted that Chris would be Chairman and Blake would be the Vice-Chairman for this meeting.

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

            RESOLVED:

That the minutes of the meeting held on 7 February 2017 be taken as read and signed by the Chairman as a correct record subject to the typo in minutes 28 – Communities Select Committee Presentation.

Di to update Youth Councillors about the presentation to be made to the communities Select Committee on 14 March 2017.

Di advised that Lisa, Zac, Annabelle and Finlay would be making the presentation to the Communities Select Committee on Tuesday 14 March 2017. The members read the presentation aloud for the benefit of Youth Councillors who were not attending and then put questions to the Youth Councillors in preparation for next week.

ACTION: Di to circulate the MiLife press release to Lisa, Zac, Annabelle and Finlay.

ACTION: Lisa, Zac, Annabelle and Finlay to attend a briefing at 6 pm on Tuesday 14 March 2017.

Youth Councillors to report on any updates from their schools.

·         Davenant Foundation School – Finlay advised that the school council would be meeting at the end of March 2017, Diversity Week had just concluded and he was looking at presenting an assembly about the Youth Council and Mental awareness.

·         Epping Forest College – Blake advised that the college was taking part in paint festival,  a digital project and had been attending the Student Reps meetings,. He was also investigating a place for the suggestion box.

·         Epping St Johns School – Annabelle advised that students had been encourage to take part in ‘Time to Shine’ competition. Marley advised that  year 8 options evening had taken place, the school were working towards ‘School of Rock’ musical and that there appeared to be a teacher shortage for his year which was effecting pupils learning.

·         King Harold Business & Enterprise Academy – Belle and Lisa advised that they had discussed with years 7,8 and 9 about what the next project for Youth Council should be, with drugs and bullying be most prominent.

·         The Ongar Academy – Jude and Oliver advised that they had taken part in the MiLife roadshow.

·         Roding Valley High School- Raaj advised that the Reality Roadshow had been at the school and he planned to co-deliver the MiLife Roadshow to year  7-11 pupils about Mental Health on 16 March.

·         West Hatch High School – Charley advised that the Head Teacher, Mrs Frances Howarth had announced her retirement and Mr Leonard had been appointed as the new Head Teacher.

Di to present the Youth Council Cup.

Di advised that the two winners of the Youth Council Cup were Marley and Finlay, who would be attending the Chairman’s Civic Awards dinner in Friday 17 March 2017.

Marley was a committed, enthusiastic young person who was passionate and dedicated to the Youth Council. He was passionate about the view of young people and had attended meeting, training and helped out with the MiLife assemblies.

Finlay was an outstanding, confident young person who had attended training, meetings and external events, provided a good liaison with his school and helped out with the MiLife assemblies.

Young Essex Assembly – Di advised that the YEA had been invited to the next meeting on 4 April 2017 and to the Fearless and Dementia training on 21 March 2017. They had not confirmed but Di would chase them.

Big White Wall – Hayley Gillam would be attending the next meeting to discuss the counselling services provided through the Big White Wall website.  www.bigwhitewall.com

Items of business for consideration at future meetings;

·         Transport for young people;

·         Youth Council Conference;

·         Cyber Bullying;

·         Drug & Alcohol Misuse;

·         Stopping cuts to the NHS;

·         Weapons in Schools/Colleges;

·         First Aid Training for young people;

·         Bullying Awareness; and

·         Young Carers (10-18yrs old).

Raajveer asked that Youth Council to debate the effects of Teacher shortages and the continuous use of supply teachers.

ACTION: Di advised that this could be debated after the meeting 4 April 2017 and  asked Youth Councillors to investigate the facts, figures and opinions of students and teachers on this matter.

Finlay asked for the Youth Council to start to consider their next project.

·         Youth Councillors discussed their next projects and the dominance of drugs and the use of nitrous oxide by young people;

·         the effects of drugs;

·         the physical health of young people including exercise, what to eat, weight control and nutrition; and

·         stopping cuts to the NHS.

ACTION: Di to investigate training for drugs awareness and contacting the Health & wellbeing Team to discuss attending a future meeting about the physical health of young people.

(a)          Notices by Diane;

(b)          Notices by Louis;

(c)          Any other notices; and

(d)          Youth Councillor notices.

Events

Meet the Police Crime Commissioner (PCC) - Annabelle/Nina/Jacob attended the event on 16 February 2017, which was with the PCC, Roger Hirst talking about policing in the community, crime within the district and the public asking questions. Annabelle advised that the Youth Councillors who attended asked a number of questions and she found the event very informative. One suggestion had been to bring back school liaison police officers to build up trust between the young people.

Loughton Town Civic Celebration – Alex H advised that the event presented a variety of awards to residents in Loughton and they had read out a poem at the events. Di advised that a letter of thanks had been received from the Town Clerk, Enid Walsh.

Notices by Di;

·                     First Give – Adam had been asked to attend the First Give Awards held a West Hatch High School. The awards were linked through Jack Petchey and work in partnership with secondary schools to help young people to give their time and talents to improve their local communities.

·                     Mental Health Awards – Di advised that following the Mental Health training in half term, Youth Councillors who attended would receive their certificates at the next EFYC meeting.

·                     Speed Meeting – Di advised that a speed meeting with adult councillors and senior officers had been rearranged for Monday 3 July 2017.

ACTION: Gaby to invite members to participate via the Members Bulletin.

·                     Houses of Parliament – Di advised that visit was 3 April 2017.

·                     Youth Council 10^th Anniversary – Di advised that the Youth Council had been established for 10 years in 2018 and officers had discussed a celebration event, to invite all the past 100 Youth Councillors back to meet up and share their experiences.

·                     MiLife – The next MiLife events would be on 16 March 2017 at Roding Valley High School and 11 May 2017 at West Hatch High School.

·                     Reality Road Show – were being held at Debden Park High School on 24 March 2017, Davenant Foundation School on 26 April 2017, Epping St John’s School on 10 July 2017 and King Harold Business & Enterprise Academy on 17 July 2017.

Notices by Louis;

·                     Insider Road Show – The Red Balloon Family were going into school to promote various events and information for young people.

·                     Motiv8 – The names of Youth Councillors attending the event had been passed onto the organisers. Youth Councillors were asked to provide their names at the entrance.

Notices by Gaby;

·                     Epping Forest Youth Strategy Meeting – Gaby thanked Annabelle and Zac for attending this meeting with Essex County Councillors and Officers.

To note that the next meeting will be held on Tuesday 4 April at 19.00 – 21.00 at the Civic Offices.

To note that the next meeting would be held on Tuesday 4 April 2017 at 19.00 – 21.00 in the Council Chamber, Civic Offices.