1 October 2009, 09/223
Mayor and pupils to celebrate Local Democracy
Week
Young people and politicians will be brought closer together
during Local Democracy Week (12 to 18 October) to help them
understand how democracy works.
This national annual event was first set up by the Local
Government Association to get local authorities to organise
activities to encourage schools and communities to be more involved
with, and aware of, their local council.
So to give its young people a flavour of how local politics
works, West Lancashire Borough Council has organised two lively
‘mock’ debates in the Council Chamber on Monday 12 October, led by
the Mayor Cllr Geoff M Roberts.
The idea behind them is to give children a taste of the decision
making process and to bring the Council closer to young people.
In the morning pupils from Aughton Town Green Primary School
will discuss recycling issues. In the afternoon, young people from
Up Holland High School will discuss how the Council and its
partners tackle anti social behaviour. Each school will have the
opportunity to nominate a ‘Chief Executive’ to help run the mock
meeting with the Mayor. All the other pupils will be treated as
‘Councillors’ during the sessions. Real members of the Council will
also be there to participate in a question and answer session with
the children.
The Mayor Councillor Geoff M Roberts, said: "We have been
running these mock debates for several years now and they are a
great way to bring young people and politicians closer together
because they are fun but informative at the same time.
"Remember, you can be involved in local democracy anytime,
simply come along to our Council meetings, inspect our reports,
raise issues with us, take part in our consultations and vote in
elections."
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