East Suffolk pupils to have permanent voice at district authority after Youth Counci agreed to

A decision to give pupils a permanent voice in a Suffolk council will bolster democracy, a councillor has said.

Last night, East Suffolk councillors unanimously agreed to set up a permanent East Suffolk Youth Council (ESYC).

The decision follows February’s very successful event where 52 pupils from seven secondary schools across the district simulated a full council meeting.

Proposed by full council chairman, Cllr Anthony Speca, the setting up and running of the ESYC will cost £6,600 but will not put any pressure on council budgets as the cost will be met by his own civic budget.

Cllr Speca said: “The youth should be heard in East Suffolk and the better future we are trying to bring about belongs especially to them.

“I’m very passionate about youth voice and I think our democracy will be better for it.”

Although the decisions made by the new youth council will not be legally binding, Cllr Speca has promised they will be taken seriously.

Councillors also hope the project will bolster the pupil’s development by increasing confidence and self-belief.

Council leader, Caroline Topping, added: “We need those youngsters to come through, we need them to be the new people who sit in this chamber.

“Whatever we can do to engage those young people in whatever they do when they grow up then I welcome it.”