Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council

Big plans, bright future

Stockton Youth Assembly Minutes

Date:
Tuesday, 15th September, 2015
Time:
05.00pm
Place:
Community Zone, North Shore Academy, Talbot Street
 
Please note: all Minutes are subject to approval at the next Meeting

Attendance Details

Present:
Jess Hugill (Chair), Cllr Mrs Ann McCoy, Viven Alwis, Jakub Andrejczyk, Kushan Bhardwaj, Beth Gibson, Stephen Jones, Neha Kambalimath, Luke Marsden, Chloe McLaren, Colin McPhee, Ross Schofield, Bailey Shaw,
Officers:
Danielle Lamb, Shirley Stenburge (Youth Direction), Nigel Hart, Michelle Jones, Stuart Levin (Law and Democracy)
In Attendance:
Megan Patterson, Bite the Ballot
Apologies for absence:
Cllr Robert Cook, Elizabeth Johnson, Chloe Armstrong,Jake Mowbray,Kathryn Wake
Item Description Decision
Public
SYA
46/14		 DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST
Preamble
 
SYA
47/14		 CODE OF CONDUCT
Preamble
AGREED that the Code of Conduct for the SYA be noted.
SYA
48/14		 HOW TO HOLD A FORMAL MEETING
Preamble
AGREED that the Rules & Procedures document for the SYA be noted.
SYA
49/14		 APPOINTMENT OF CHAIR
Preamble
AGREED that:-

1. Jessica Hugill, Youth MP, be appointed as Chairman of the SYA.

2. The appointment be made for a period of two years until the next SYA is appointed.
SYA
50/14		 APPOINTMENT OF VICE CHAIR
Preamble
AGREED that:-

1. Kushan Bhardwaj, Deputy Youth MP, be appointed as Vice Chairman of the SYA.

2. The appointment be made for a period of two years until the next SYA is appointed.
SYA
51/14		 FEEDBACK FROM BOROUGH WIDE DEBATE
Preamble
AGREED that:-

1. the report be noted

2. the issues raised be scheduled for further discussion as part of the SYA Forward Plan
SYA
52/14		 UPDATE OF STOCKTON YOUTH ASSEMBLY ACTIVITY
Preamble
AGREED that the report be noted.
SYA
53/14		 MAKE YOUR MARK CAMPAIGN
Preamble
AGREED that the SYA would continue to promote Make Your Mark
SYA
54/14		 FORWARD PLAN
Preamble
AGREED that the Forward Plan be noted
5.00pm / 6.30pm

Preamble

ItemPreamble
SYA
46/14		It was explained that SYA members should make the meeting aware if they attended a school, youth club, or activity that was discussed during an SYA meeting.
SYA
47/14		Members of the SYA formed workshops to discuss the rules of behaviour and conduct that they would expect from attending meetings, ranking these from most important to least important. The two rules of behaviour that were ranked as most important were "You should respect and listen to the views of others, challenge discrimination and promote equal opportunities" and "Every young person aged 11 - 19 has a right to have his/her view heard and listened to by Stockton Youth Assembly".

It was noted that it was important for all members of the SYA to be comfortable and happy to abide by an agreed set of rules so that no one attending these meetings would have reason to believe they were being treat unfairly.

The Code of Conduct which set out these rules of behaviour for SYA Members was circulated and Members were asked to sign the Code of Conduct, if they had not already done so.
SYA
48/14		The SYA was advised that, in a similar way to all schools, colleges and youth clubs, the SYA had rules and procedures that explained how meetings of the SYA would be held. These procedures included an explanation of the purpose of the SYA and contained items such as the frequency and venue of meetings; the importance of appointing a Chairman and Vice Chairman; how voting on decisions would take place; and how SYA members would be supported by the Council etc.

The Rules and Procedures for the SYA was circulated. Members where advised that any suggestions for additions to the Rules of Procedure would be discussed at the next meeting.
SYA
49/14		Consideration was given to the appointment of a Chairman for the SYA.
SYA
50/14		Consideration was given to the appointment of a Vice Chairman for the SYA.
SYA
51/14		A report was presented that summarised the discussion at the SYA Borough Wide Debate that took place 13 July 2015. The debate brought together SYA members with Elected Councillors and officers to discuss key policy areas that most affected young people and areas that young people wished to raise. These were:

• Emotional Health & Wellbeing
Focussed on the range of things that caused stress, where young people went when they needed to seek help, and the need for more information about what good mental health was.
• Early Help Services
Focussed on how young people accessed information and advice on different things that affected them, and how/when they would like to receive this information.
• Young Person Manifesto
Focussed on the common areas that the MYP, Labour Group in Stockton-on-Tees, and the British Youth Council (BYC) said that they wished to achieve for young people, with the purpose of producing a Young Person Manifesto for Stockton-On-Tees.
• Child Sexual Exploitation
Focussed on whether young people were aware of this issue, and how to ensure that young people could recognise if this was happening to their friends.

These topics would be added to the Forward Plan to form the SYA's work programme for 2015/15, and therefore be discussed in more detail at the formal meetings.
SYA
52/14		A report was presented that summarised the various activities members of the SYA had undertaken since being appointed, which included informal "getting to know you" and development sessions, attendance at the BYC development training residential in April and Convention in June, and the MYP/Deputy MYP attending radio debates during the General Election campaign and attending the Election Count.

The MYP discussed her attendance at the Annual Sitting at Exeter University to discuss the topics for Make Your Mark event.
SYA
53/14		It was noted that the Make Your Mark Campaign was launched on 12 August, which asked young people to vote on a topic that they wished to be discussed by the Youth Parliament at the Houses of Parliament.

The SYA were promoting the campaign and collecting votes, and as part of this had a market stall in Stockton High Street on 22 August as well as doing outreach work in Ingleby Barwick on 1 September and contacted various youth groups. The SYA was also contacting schools to ask if they would hold ballots, and several school had already signed up to Make Your Mark. SYA members stated that they would speak to their school about the importance of taking part, and would also raise the campaign at the Lets Take Action group.

The Cabinet Member for Children and Young People stated that she would write to all schools to encourage them to take part.

The SYA had collected nearly 3000 votes in 2014, and 2015 target was 4,000.
SYA
54/14		The Forward Plan was noted. The next meeting would take place on 17 November.

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