Pictures show debate/Cabinet meeting at County Upper School, Bury St Edmunds.
Students in St Edmundsbury tackled their local councillors on law and order issues at a debate recently and then presented their findings to members of the Cabinet, who met at their school.
During a Local Democracy Week debate last year affordable housing was top of the list of priorities identified by young people. This year law and order issues, including personal safety, joyriding, bullying in schools, parenting and its effect on crime were debated, with students studying A-level politics at County Upper School, Bury St Edmunds, putting across their views. Councillors, including the Mayor of St Edmundsbury, Cllr Michael Jones, discussed topics from their point of view. The students have now been asked to take part in St Edmundsbury's Crime and Disorder Strategy consultation.
Giving feedback to the Cabinet afterwards, one of the students said: "Watching politics in action was almost amusing, and certainly informative."
Council Leader, Cllr John Griffiths, welcomed the chance to engage young people directly in the democratic process and thanked the school for its hospitality. He told the students:
"St Edmundsbury is especially keen to engage young people in the work of the council and this type of event shows that you really can make a difference."
The debate and Cabinet meeting at the school was one of a number of events during October, Young People's Month at St Edmundsbury. Councillors will be visiting schools throughout the borough to talk about their role as part of the citizenship curriculum, councillors and staff are also going to schools to talk about careers in local government and the hugely successful annual BurySOUND band competition is being launched during Local Democracy Week itself.
ENDS
ISSUED BY MARIANNE HULLAND, COMMUNICATIONS UNIT, ST EDMUNDSBURY BOROUGH COUNCIL. Tel 01284 757034. marianne.hulland@stedsbc.gov.uk
