The purpose of this meeting is to enable members of the Council and young people to meet and discuss those issues that are important to young people in Wirral today. Details of the agenda for the Youth Parliament event are attached.

The young people and Councillors assembled in the Council Chamber at 6:15pm.

The Mayor welcomed everyone to the Youth Parliament. The Mayor noted that given the young people in attendance there were safeguarding concerns but gave reassurance that he was satisfied that all persons present in the public gallery were attending in a professional caring or direct caring capacity. He advised that there would be ample opportunity to take photographs at the end of the Parliament.

The Mayor then offered his thanks to all those who had attended Remembrance Services throughout Wirral both at the weekend and on Remembrance Day.

The Mayor gave a brief outline of proceedings and invited Upton Hall to present their first proposal.

The following proposal was put by Upton Hall’s proposer, Charlotte.

Should euthanasia be legalised for the sake of the patient's emotional wellbeing?

Upton Hall’s Opposing proposal was put by Francis.

The debate was then opened to Councillors and young people for their contributions.

The proposal was put and carried (18:11) (5 abstentions).

The following proposal was put by LGBTQ Group proposer, Vivienna.

All public buildings should have gender neutral toilets

LGBTQ Group’s Opposing proposal was put by Olivia.

The debate was then opened to Councillors and young people for their contributions.

The proposal was put and lost (10:19) (5 abstentions).

The following proposal was put by Upton Hall School’s proposer, Hannah.

Is the emotional wellbeing of young women being compromised by the media?

Upton Hall School’s Opposing proposal was put by Aileen.

The debate was then opened to Councillors and young people for their contributions.

Upton Hall School’s seconder Heather then closed the debate.

The proposal was put and carried (28:3) (5 abstentions).

The following proposal was put by Birkenhead Sixth Form College’s proposer Esther.

Is social media a cause of social isolation and relationship problems?

Birkenhead Sixth Form College’s Opposing proposal was put by Jacob.

The debate was then opened to Councillors and young people for their contributions.

Birkenhead Sixth Form College’s seconder Ellie then closed the debate.

The motion was put and carried (19:10) (9 abstentions).

The following proposal was put by Wirral Youth Voice Group’s proposer Beth.

In this climate of severe cuts to essential services, the council must ensure that

they safeguard the emotional health and wellbeing of vulnerable young people.

Wirral Youth Voice Group’s Opposing proposal was put by Stephen.

The debate was then opened to Councillors and young people for their contributions.

The Wirral Youth Voice Group’s seconder Livvie then closed the debate.

The proposal was put and carried unanimously (36:0).

On behalf of Birkenhead’s Sixth Form College the Mayor proposed that;

We believe that all young people aged 16/17 should be able to vote as they were in the recent Scottish referendum

For the purpose of the debate Councillor Phil Davies acted as Opposing proposer to the motion.

The debate was then opened to Councillors and young people for their contributions.

The motion was put and carried (28:5).

The following proposal was put by Wirral Youth Voice Group’s proposer Nichole.

Wirral Council Youth Service should be involved in delivering the youth offer in the Wirral Youth Zone, to ensure that emotional wellbeing is at the heart of its delivery.

Wirral Youth Voice Group’s Opposing proposer was put by Beth.

The debate was then opened to Councillors and young people for their contributions.

The Wirral Youth Voice Group’s seconder Brittany then closed the debate.

The motion was put and carried. (20:2) (15 abstentions).

The debate concluded with speeches from the party groups (Councillors Phil Davies, Wendy Clements and Phil Gilchrist) who paid tribute to the quality, delivery and content of the debates and encouraged participants future involvement in Politics

The Mayor complimented the young people for the wide range and standard of the debates and thanked everyone for their hard work in making this event such a success. He commented that everyone had put their point of view across in a respectful way, had kept to time and had successfully achieved the aims of the meeting. The young people of Wirral had good reason to be proud of themselves!