Two members of the Ceredigion Youth Council recently contributed to a meeting of Ceredigion County Council’s Learning Communities Scrutiny Committee.
Thomas Kendall from Coleg Ceredigion and Huw Jones from Ceredigion YFC sat in on the meeting and commented on discussions during the meeting. They gave their views on discussions about the Ceredigion Music Service and the consultation on developing or relocating Theatr Felinfach.
This is the first of a series of meetings in which the Ceredigion Youth Service will support members of Ceredigion Youth Council to sit on scrutiny committees.
Young people sitting on the committees have the chance to share information with the Ceredigion Youth Council. The committees gives young people the chance to inform the scrutiny committees of the work carried out by the Ceredigion Youth Council. The Young People’s Participation Officer will support the young representatives during the committee meetings.
Councillor Endaf Edwards is the Chairman of the Learning Communities Scrutiny Committee. He said: “Thomas and Huw spoke with great maturity and offered genuine insights to the meeting.”
“It is vitally important that young people’s voices are not only heard but are also considered at a strategic level where decisions are made. Young people can bring fresh ideas and another perspective to this process. Giving young people the chance to sit on regular scrutiny committees further demonstrates the council’s commitment to the UNCRC agreement.”
The United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child is a legally binding international agreement which sets out the civil, political, economic, social and cultural rights of every child, regardless of their race, religion or abilities.
Huw, Member of Ceredigion Youth Council said, “Having the opportunity to sit on my first scrutiny committee as a youth representative was a really positive experience. I was able to learn more about the Council’s decision making process and understand the matters that were brought to the agenda. My role will involve providing feedback to my peers on the Youth Council regarding what I have learnt so far.”
The council has five overview and scrutiny committees which scrutinise council matters and prepare recommendations for the Cabinet. The Cabinet will then make decisions based on those recommendations unless the matter is decided on by the full council.
02/08/2019