A Liberal Democrat Councillor has attacked a decision by Conservative-run B&NES Council to cancel the forthcoming UK Youth Parliament Elections, which are due to take place in the authority in January.
Cllr Nathan Hartley (Peasedown St John) was contacted by frustrated members of the young people’s campaign group DAFBY (Democratic Action for B&NES Youth) last week with the sad news that the Council has decided to cancel the annual elections – which are now approaching their tenth year.
Cllr Nathan Hartley, who nine years ago was one of the founding members of DAFBY and the UK Youth Parliament elections here in B&NES, said:
“This is an awful decision to make. Now approaching its tenth year of activity the UK Youth Parliament has been extremely successful in engaging young people in the democratic process and encouraging countless teenagers to take an active role in society.
This move by B&NES Council is a smack in the face to every young person who has been involved with DAFBY since myself and group of peers founded the group in the year 2000.”
B&NES has cited a lack of staff support behind their reason for cancelling the elections.
Last Sunday, Cllr Nathan Hartley held an emergency meeting with DAFBY members in an attempt to save the elections. At the meeting, the group laid out a set of proposals of how to address the situation, and to get the election process back on track.
At the time of going to press, no one from the Authority has accepted Cllr Hartley’s invitation for a meeting to explore a rescue package.
Cllr Hartley continued:
“I really do hope the Council decides to make a positive U-turn and re-instate the elections.
Imagine if B&NES decided to cancel the 2011 local elections – if they did there would be a public out-cry. These elections that promote and enable youth democracy should be no different.”
The Conservative-led Council also have plans to cut the number of DAFBY meetings down to two per month (from the current four) and cancel all Council-funded transport to the meetings from April 2010.