Agenda and minutes

To agree a Chairman and Vice-Chairman for this meeting.

It was noted that Ashwin would be the Chairman and Jyoti would be the Vice Chairman for this meeting.

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

Youth Councillors were made aware that the agenda for each full Youth Council meeting contained the minutes of the previous meeting. The agenda was publish at least 5 days before the meeting and posted out to Youth Councillors. The purpose of the minutes was to enable Youth Councillors to recall the events of the previous meeting, including any items that they may need to action for the next meeting.

ACTION: Any Youth Councillors, who had not received their agenda, should speak to Di/Paula to confirm their address.         

RESOLVED:

That the minutes of the meeting held on 5 June 2018 were a correct record.

Matters arising from the minutes of the last meeting;

ACTION: Abigail to complete the analysis of the data gathered from the drug survey and meet with Di to progress the information into a report.

Youth Councillors to report on school issues, achievements, events and training that they have accomplished since the last meeting.

Youth Councillors updated each other on school issues, achievements, events and training since the last meeting.

·         Braeside Independent School – Simran advised that the school had come second in a netball tournament.

·         Davenant Foundation School – Archie advised that the school had held their sports day and the year 8 boys had won the West Essex Championships. Fin and Adam advised that the School Council had been meeting to determine a school moto.

·         Debden High School – Rene advised that the school had held themed weeks for each year group and there had been a push to increase exercise throughout the school with boot camps. Ashwin had been appointed Head Boy and Jacob had been appointed as one of the Deputy Head Boys. They  were both members of the student voice.

·         St John’s Epping High School – Stanimir advised that pupils had been raising funds for a school trip.

·         Roding Valley High School – Daniel advised that a new house system had been introduced; sports day was being held on Wednesday; and they were having a dress down day to raise money for charity. Jasmine also advised that there had been mock interviews and help with CV for year 10 pupils.

·         West Hatch High School – Arjun advised that Year 10 pupils had been attended work experience; a district competition had been won and some pupils had been completing their Duke of Edinburgh awards.

Suzie had been confirmed as Deputy Head Girl for Trinity Catholic High and Adam had been confirmed as Deputy Head Boy for Davenant Foundation School.

Youth Councillors to feedback on any events that they have attended in relation to the Youth Council since the last meeting.

Youth Councillors had the opportunity to feed back on events attended since the last meeting of Full Youth Council.

Ashwin advised that Annabelle had attended the Communities Select Committee on the 12 June 2018.

Stanimir reported back on the eNgage event, which was a performance from a variety of dance groups from Essex and Hertfordshire. It was held at the Sportlight Thearte, Hoddesdon on 29 June 2018. Everyone who attended enjoyed the event.

EFYC 10^th Anniversary – The Epping Forest Youth Council marked its 10 year anniversary with an evening reception held at the Houses of Parliament on Wednesday 4 July 2018. It was hosted by the Right Honourable Dame Eleanor Laing, MP and included guest speakers from the Chairman of Epping Forest District Council, Councillor Richard Bassett, Leisure and Community Services Portfolio Holder, Councillor Helen Kane, Councillor Holly Whitbread, High Sheriff of Essex Bryan Burrough, Roger Hirst, Essex Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner and 5 current and past Youth Councillors; Ellis Spicer, Jaymey McIvor, Matthew Tinker, Adam Freeman and Florence New. Also guests included The Deputy Lieutenant Mike Chapman and the former High Sheriff Lorna Rolfe.

The evening celebrated ten years of local youth democracy in Epping Forest and over 80 Youth Councillors past and present were there to share their experiences. The current Youth Council presented a film highlighting their work and displayed photographs spanning the 10 years, alongside examples of their youth-lead project work.

Ashwin advised that the following events had been scheduled;

·         Reality Roadshow would be at the following schools and Youth Councillors were asked to assist.

Ø  19 July 2018 – Ongar Academy (Oliver, Jude & Harriette)

Ø  3 October 2018 – West Hatch (Arjun & Tallulah)

·         Neighbourhood Action Panel was being held at Epping Town Council on 23 July 2018. Annabelle and Nina were attending but any Youth Councillors that lived in Epping were welcome to attend the event. The panel discussed issues that concerned residents in Epping.

·         Singing in the Wilderness (1938 Open Air Social). This event would be attended by Ashwin and Eleanor on 29 September 2018 at St. John’ Church, Buckhurst Hill.

To consider future project work.

Gangs Project

Youth Councillors discussed their next project concerning gangs. Di would be arranging training over the summer holidays and mentioned that some Youth Councillors may have seen the Reality Roadshow, which included some information around this issue.

Gaby advised that Youth Councillors needed to determine what they wanted from the project and how this would be achieved as a starting point.

Youth Councillors felt that they would like to do something that made an impact and stood out.

‘Sparks 2 Life’ and the Essex Magistrates had been invited to provide the Youth Councillors with some basic information and training on gang related issues.

Drugs Project

Gaby advised that the art work for the drugs poster to be displayed on the back of local buses had been signed off and it would run from 6 August 2018 for 3 months.

Gaby reported that the Police Fire and Crime Commissioner, Roger Hirst had expressed an interest in both of the projects and would like to be sent the results of the drugs survey.

Adam asked how MiLife would be updated in the third year and whether it was being digitally recorded for future use. Gaby advised that officers were working with Red Balloon on this issue.

To advise on training.

Di asked Youth Councillors to email/WhatsApp Di or Paula to confirm holiday dates that they would not be available, so that a training date could be arranged and include as many of Youth Councillors as possible.  Suggested dates included 25 July/ 09 August / 14 August 2018.

Di to advise.

Gaby spoke to the Youth Councillors about the budget for the Youth Council. She advised that although officers were in overall control, Youth Councillors could determine how the budget was spent on their projects. She pointed out that transport costs accounted for a large portion of the costs, although she was glad to see that Youth Councillors were car sharing or finding other ways to attend meetings, which would helped spread the budget further.

To note that Abigail would be the Youth Council’s representative for the Communities Select Committee for 2018/19.

After the last meeting, Youth Councillors nominated Abigail as the future Youth Council representative on the Communities Select Committee for 2018/20.

Di to advise.

Youth Councillors were asked to nominate one of their fellow Youth Councillors for the next Jack Petchey award. The results would be announced at the next meeting.

There had been no submissions forms received to attend a future Youth Council meeting, although Loughton Town Council had asked for the Youth Council to attend one of their Town Council meetings. The 11 October 2018 had been the suggested date and they had asked for a short presentation on the Youth Council.

ACTION: Di asked that Youth Councillors living within the Loughton area, who wanted to take part should contact Di or Paula.

(a)          Notices by Diane;

(b)          Notices by Paula;

(c)          Any other Notices; and

(d)          Youth Councillor Notices.

(a)          Notices by Di

Children in Need Event – Epping Town Council were organising a ramble in the Forest event, to raise money for Children in Need. Officers advised that due to the restrictions on the adult to young person ratio and the event being held on a Sunday officers would not be able to support the event. Youth Councillors were welcome to attend the event themselves and required their parent’s permission.

(b)          Notices By Gaby

Gaby wished all Youth Councillors good luck for end of year exams and results day.

Mental Health Surveys – Gaby advised that the survey was no longer required, as the information had been needed by the end of term which was shortly approaching.

(c)          Youth Councillors

Annual Drug Survey – Youth Councillors enquired when the next drug survey would be issued. Di advised that she would meet with Abigail to discuss the data from the first survey and determine how this would be used. Then the second survey could be arranged and the purposes of the information be determined.

To note that the next meeting will be held on Tuesday 18 September 2018 at 19.00 – 21.00 at the Civic Offices.

To note that the next meeting would be held on Tuesday 18 September 2018.