Before the commencement of the Youth Parliament in the Council Chamber the Mayor formally opened the proceedings in the Civic Hall at 6.15 p.m.

Jack Truman gave a brief overview of the agenda for the meeting. He explained the background to the video – United Kingdom Youth Parliament and reported that Wirral would be represented at the second annual debate on 29 October.

Hannah Holt outlined the aims and objectives of the Wirral Youth Theatre.  She introduced the Swing Choir and the Inclusion Dance Company who had been invited to provide the entertainment for this evening.

Maureen McDaid, Principal Manager, CYP Participation and Inclusion Branch, invited Councillors to join the young people at the table discussions before the opening of the Youth Parliament in the Council Chamber.

The young people and Councillors assembled in the Council Chamber at 7.15 p.m.  The Mayor welcomed the young people and briefly explained the rules of debate.

The following Motion for debate had been proposed by the Executive Youth Board:

“The Council has a duty to consult and involve its citizens in the decision making process. However, the system favours adults and we assert that elected members should be held as accountable to the young people of Wirral as they are to adults. Therefore we ask that the Council identifies mechanisms whereby young people will be informed of and involved in, decision making processes.”

It was moved as an amendment by Hannah Holt and seconded by Kyan Morrison that:

“It should be the young people themselves that identify the mechanisms as to how they become involved in the decision making process and these mechanisms should be adhered to rather than just be empty promises.”

The amendment was put and carried (49:5) (1abstention)

It was moved as further amendment by Shay Collins and Kyan Johnson that;

“Therefore we ask that the Council, in partnership with young people identifies and/or creates mechanisms whereby young people will be informed of and involved in the decision making process.”

The amendment was put an lost (9:34) (11 abstentions)

The debate concluded with speeches from the three party leaders (Councillors Green, Foulkes and Holbrook) who complimented the young people on their enthusiastic approach and the quality of their contributions to the debate.

The Mayor closed the meeting by thanking all those present for their participation. He thanked the party leaders, and Peter Edmondson, Maureen McDaid, Debbie McCabe, Ian McCabe, Lindsay Davidson and the staff of the youth service for facilitating this event. He commented that the young people had shown a lot of maturity in their contribution to the debate which would serve them and Wirral well in the future.