ALTON could soon have its very own Youth Council.
The decision has been seen by local councillors as Òa step forward for AltonÓ.
They were responding to a proposal, put by Alton College students Suzy Fulton, 17, and Samuel Pike,16. The two petitioners were of the belief that a Youth Council would open up an important two-way channel of communication between young people and the local authorities.
In welcoming the proposal, town mayor John Smith said how important it was to get feed-back from the youth of the town as to exactly what they wanted and that the more people who were involved the better.
These were sentiments echoed by fellow councillor David Willoughby, who at the same time issued a word of caution. While the council would endeavour to meet the aims and aspirations of its young people it was not always possible to act swiftly due, he pointed out, to financial constraints and because the wheels of local government are often slow to turn. ÒCouncil matters take time,Ó he said.
That aside, Mr Willoughby urged young people to fill in the Alton Town Plan questionnaire (a copy of which appears on Page 7), so that they too could add to the ÔVision of AltonÕ which it is hoped will finally emerge from the consultation process.
ÒOne of the main concerns we have had in undertaking this project is in establishing a means of approaching young people to get their views,Ó he said.
It is intended that the new Youth Council should take the form of an Open Forum focusing on the town and its facilities.
Councillors felt that it should not try to cover too large an area, in case it was seen to be infringing on the jurisdiction of surrounding villages. However, it was recognised that it may well attract membership from those young people living outside the town but who travel in to college, school or to use the facilities.
While aimed at the 11 to 18 year olds, P & R chairman Dave Crocker warned against the danger of falling into a previously experienced trap whereby the lead within the organisation was taken by young people from Alton College without sufficient emphasis oALTON could soon have its very own Youth Council.
The decision has been seen by local councillors as Òa step forward for AltonÓ.
They were responding to a proposal, put by Alton College students Suzy Fulton, 17, and Samuel Pike,16. The two petitioners were of the belief that a Youth Council would open up an important two-way channel of communication between young people and the local authorities.
In welcoming the proposal, town mayor John Smith said how important it was to get feed-back from the youth of the town as to exactly what they wanted and that the more people who were involved the better.
These were sentiments echoed by fellow councillor David Willoughby, who at the same time issued a word of caution. While the council would endeavour to meet the aims and aspirations of its young people it was not always possible to act swiftly due, he pointed out, to financial constraints and because the wheels of local government are often slow to turn. ÒCouncil matters take time,Ó he said.
That aside, Mr Willoughby urged young people to fill in the Alton Town Plan questionnaire (a copy of which appears on Page 7), so that they too could add to the ÔVision of AltonÕ which it is hoped will finally emerge from the consultation process.
ÒOne of the main concerns we have had in undertaking this project is in establishing a means of approaching young people to get their views,Ó he said.
It is intended that the new Youth Council should take the form of an Open Forum focusing on the town and its facilities.
Councillors felt that it should not try to cover too large an area, in case it was seen to be infringing on the jurisdiction of surrounding villages. However, it was recognised that it may well attract membership from those young people living outside the town but who travel in to college, school or to use the facilities.
While aimed at the 11 to 18 year olds, P & R chairman Dave Crocker warned against the danger of falling into a previously experienced trap whereby the lead within the organisation was taken by young people from Alton College without sufficient emphasis on encouraging younger members to take over the reins when they moved on.
In the event it was agreed to give the go ahead to the formation of a Youth Council, with the details of how it should be constituted and run to be agreed in consultation with the town clerk.n encouraging younger members to take over the reins when they moved on.
In the event it was agreed to give the go ahead to the formation of a Youth Council, with the details of how it should be constituted and run to be agreed in consultation with the town clerk.