Young people were preparing to takeover a meeting of the council's Shadow Executive when they met with organisers Coun. Julie Gunnell and Youth Volunteer Development Manager Natasha Almond today (see photo). The young people are set to take over the meeting as part of National Takeover Day, an annual event where 16-25 year olds are put in the hot seat and given the opportunity to say how services could be changed to better serve them in the future.

Coun. Julie Gunnell said:

"National Takeover Day is a really important event and gives young people the opportunity to have their voices heard and to influence policies that affect them. It is not just about paying lip service to this initiative - we will be feeding their views into the decision-making process and seeking answers to their questions. We often ask why people are not engaged in local decision-making and politics - here is an opportunity to begin to change that".

Young people coming together to help organise the meeting said they were excited about the meeting and the chance to debate issues which directly affect them. And Coun. Gunnell said it was important that they had a say in what was on the agenda.

She added:

"There are a number of issues from concessionary bus travel to local leisure facilities to broader issues like compulsory education beyond 16 years of age which will all be of interest to young people. The Shadow Executive members are looking forward to the meeting and to facilitating a discussion around the agenda once it has been agreed".