CR JULIE Talty has called for Redlands to form a youth council for young people to talk about issues important to them.
Cr Talty asked officers to investigate forming a Redland City Youth Council and to include possible criteria for participants, selection methods and costs.
Council will consider the viability of the group once the report is received.
“I would like to see a sort of advisory panel on youth concerns and issues that would allow selected representative school students to attend and consider relevant council matters,” Cr Talty said.
“It would allow our young people to have more of a voice and give their thoughts on matters like youth facilities, graffiti and other antisocial behaviour, and youth events.
“Students could elect their youth representatives and this may be complemented by an outreach program component where support officers, and perhaps the local councillor, could go into the schools to engage.”
Cr Talty said the youth council members could go back and report on issues at their school.
“It’s important to understand young people’s views on wider issues too, like public transport, technology and environment.
“While there have been various outreach and consultative programs over the years aimed at our local young people, in many cases these have been issue specific.
“This initiative is designed to be a little more high level, affording the students the opportunity to understand how council operates and provide their views on matters that impact them.”
Council’s mechanisms for engaging with young people in the past include the YTALK Group, which operated from 2005 for about 10 years, in a similar manner to a youth council.