Issue - meetings

The attached report outlines the rationale behind the decision to no longer engage a B&NES young person to be a Member of Youth Parliament and the next steps that will be taken to ensure a wider engagement plan for children and young people.

The Director of Children's Services & Education introduced this report to the Panel. She said that it outlined the rationale and next steps that will be taken to ensure a wider engagement plan for children and young people.

She said that an event was due to take place on July 20^th with young people to discuss local decision making.

She stated that the current contract with Off The Record (OTR) 2021-2024 will be delivered within the current financial envelope.

She added that the proposal has the support of the Cabinet Member for Children and Young People, Communities.

Councillor Liz Hardman said that she agreed with the recommendations from Off The Record to be more inclusive in the delivery of children and young people’s participation by focusing more on the Youth Forum. She added though that the Youth Member elections were always an excellent opportunity for young people to participate in an electoral process.

She asked if OTR could still support the UKMP elections in BANES by promoting them through other networks.

The Director of Children's Services & Education replied that OTR would still support anyone who wants to stand in this election.

Councillor Hardman commented that the newly formed Bath Student Parliament sounds a very exciting project and said she had noticed that we are supporting the development and expansion of it. She asked if there is anything in place yet to include schools in North East Somerset.

The Director of Children's Services & Education replied that the Strategic Commissioning Officer will follow up directly with OTR about participation of North East Somerset young people. She added that they would welcome any updates on local youth groups from across the Council and would support their interaction with the Youth Forum.

Councillor Hardman asked how local groups will be informed of events held by the Youth Forum as they are normally informed by Youth Connect South West.

The Director of Children's Services & Education replied that Youth Connect South West works alongside the Youth Forum and that OTR will seek to promote future network events as widely as possible.

Councillor Paul May commented that he has a long-term connection with OTR and asked if there will be a recommissioning process in the future and an assessment made of what has worked / not worked.

The Director of Children's Services & Education replied that the participation contract would be reprocured at some point in the future and it would be hoped that the best provider would be successful. She added that within the contract it would be specified for the need to work with and support the Youth Forum on the wider participation of children and young people in BANES.

Councillor Andy Wait explained that he was a lead mentor for Keynsham Now, a similar organisation to OTR, and had noticed a change in emphasis from OTR and the Youth Parliament. He said that recently contact with OTR had increased and had included their attendance at a meeting in Keynsham and that Keynsham Now had chosen  ...  view the full minutes text for item 36