Overview and Scrutiny 23 April
Members of Epping Forest District Youth Council high-lighted a range of achievements from a busy year in their annual presentation to senior councillors of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee on Tuesday 23 April.
Watch the webcast
Epping Forest Youth Council
Epping Forest Youth Council is a high-profile national award-winning organisation, comprising 23 young people, representing 8 Epping Forest secondary schools and the New
City College (Epping Forest Campus). One Youth Councillor is schooled online. These young people represent the views of their peers and wider school communities. Speaking directly to district councillors, they have unrivalled access and influence in the decision making and policy formulation of Epping Forest District Council (EFDC).
Following, the youth council elections in March, the presentation to Overview and Scrutiny was one of their last duties before some members of the current youth council step down. A record number of 60 candidates stood for election, an outstanding turnout in the Epping Forest secondary schools.
Among the projects in the Annual Review, Youth Councillors highlighted the annual youth council conference attended by 125 delegates from local schools. Transport and the cost-of-living crisis are areas of concern to local young people. Topics of discussion also included alcohol and substance abuse, identified as a key area for wider consultation.
EFDC provides extensive practical support and funding to the Youth Council. Youth Councillors also raise significant additional external funding from a wide range of other organisations including the Jack Petchey Foundation. The Youth Council also secured £8,800 from the Essex County Council Local Community Fund for the Broadcast roadshow. The project delivers Arc Theatre’s multi-media Broadcast programme tackling the issue of sexual harassment with young people across the district’s secondary schools.
Other items
In the final meeting of Overview and Scrutiny before the local elections on 2 May, councillors reviewed Epping Forest District Council’s budget monitoring report, corporate plan, and people strategy. Members of the Cabinet were also on-hand to discuss items of business outlined in the Council’s Forward Plan.
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