19 March 2008 - At last night's meeting of Norwich City Council councillors agreed that the authority will do more to engage younger people in the city in influencing its work and priorities. Councillor Adrian Ramsay, Co-ordinator of the Green Party Group on Norwich City Council, called on the Council to look into creating a Youth Council for the city.
Adrian Ramsay said: "The City Council needs to improve the way it consults and involves all citizens in decision-making but participation in local government is particularly low among young people - as we know from election turnout figures and participating in residents' associations, for example.
"Youth councils are an innovative way to listen to the views of young people within our city and gain valuable input on the full range of issues. They aim to give young people influence over decisions that affect their lives and encourage involvement in local government."
The Council agreed to set up a Youth Scrutiny Committee in the next civic year (which starts in May). This will give younger people a chance to work with the Council's Scrutiny Committee to look at models of youth councils and other ways of engaging younger people that are used elsewhere in the country.
There are currently 56 youth councils already in place in the East of England and a further 400 in Britain.
The full text of the motion agreed at last night's City Council meeting is as follows:
"This Council believes that it is crucial that young people are aware of and engaged in the work of local government. Council notes that many other local councils, including Norfolk County Council, have set up arrangements such as Youth Forums or established Young Mayors to help achieve this. Council expresses support for the work of the UK Youth Parliament and wishes its recently elected members well.
Council resolves to explore the creation of a Youth Scrutiny Group to work alongside the Scrutiny Committee, particularly in the area of policy formulation, during the approach to a new unitary Council."