Britain in Bloom
Henley is a national finalist in the 2007 RHS Britain in Bloom competition – a competition that focuses on communities working together to improve their local areas for the better. Help Henley to win gold - find out how you can get involved, what preparation/work is going on around the town, details of competitions you can enter and read all the latest blogs from those involved by clicking here.
External Links |
| The British Youth Council |
henley youth council
Henley is one of the few towns in Britain to formally create a town youth council. This body operates in the same way as Henley Town Council and will represent the views of the town’s young people.
Members of Henley Town Youth Council will be chosen by elections within local primary and senior schools, colleges and clubs this autumn. The ages of councillors will range from eleven to nineteen.
There will be 31 councillors in total. Valley Road, Trinity, Badgemore, Sacred Heart, Rupert House and St.Mary’s primary schools, will each have one councillor. Gillotts Secondary School, Henley College, Henley Youth Club, United Reform Church, Nomad and Eyot will each elect two councillors and two will come from other organisations for the young, such as the YMCA and Air Training Corps.
One member will subsequently be elected Leader of the Council and another as Town Clerk. The work of the council will be supported by a youth secretariat and young reporters will be nominated to attend council meetings and report its activities.
“Young people will have the power to set their own agenda and make formal recommendations to Henley Town Council,” explained councillor Barry Wood. “They can pass resolutions on any subject, ranging from the war in Iraq to the need for a skateboard park in the town.
“All of their recommendations will be given full and proper consideration at meetings of the full town council. I must stress that Henley Town Youth Council is in no way a ‘pretend’ situation. It will act as an advisory committee of the full council and be a very real and active body whose opinions will matter.
”It is essential that we give youth a say in the running of the town’s affairs if we are to ensure that young and old residents continue to live in harmony and understanding of each other.”
Membership of Henley Town Youth Council will change annually, although organisations can re-elect existing members for a further year of office.
Youth councillors have received training from the Mayor of Henley and the Town Clerk and will be helped by adult mentors before and after meetings. Adult mentors cannot participate in the meeting.
Meetings will be held four times a year in Henley Town Hall’s council chambers and will mirror the full town council’s operation. The meetings will be open to the media and public and recommendations made by Henley Town Youth Council can be forwarded to Henley Town Council for discussion and possible action.
Youth Town Council members will not represent any political party.