Plan to get young people on Oswestry Town Council
Friday 14th October 2011, 7:01PM BST.
Teenagers may soon be given a seat on Oswestry Town Council as part of a plan to get youngsters more interested in civic life.
The suggestion has been made by Councillor Martin Bennett who said several other councils, including Welshpool Town Council, were considering the move.
His move was sparked after councillors heard there had been a poor turnout for recent meetings of Oswestry Youth Council.
In June only one Oswestry School pupil, two Walford and North Shropshire College students and two members of Oswestry Youth Cafe attended.
The attendance was even worse at a meeting last month when only two Oswestry School pupils and one college student attended.
A report from town council facilities manager Glenys Davies said a meeting on September 22 was better attended but the poor turnout in recent months had been a problem.
She said: “It has become obvious that the work of the Youth Council will have to be concentrated into the autumn and spring terms, as soon as the exams start in May it is difficult for the students to commit to meetings.”
Councillor Bennett said co-opting a youth councillor on to the full town council could help encourage youngsters to join up.
He said: “I wonder if it would be possible to consider co-opting a youth councillor to this council.
“They would take part in most of our discussions.”
The council agreed to ask the town clerk to look at the suggestion and come back with a report in the future.
By Iain St John
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