The Courier & Advertiser (Angus and Dundee)
Young councillors want times changed to boost inclusivity
Council: Braden Davy and Ben Lawrie want to see evening meetings
Angus’s youngest councillors are making a last-ditch plea to colleagues to reschedule meetings as a way of bringing in new blood.
Ben Lawrie and Braden Davy say evening meetings would encourage people who work or study during the day to stand for election, as well as making it easier for members of the public to attend.
The issue will be debated by the full council in Forfar tomorrow but the pair look set to be disappointed.
A member/officer group set up to examine the timing of meetings following the local government elections in May came up with a range of options but councillors have come out in favour of sticking to the status quo.
At present meetings take place at either 10am or 2pm. Options including 4pm and 5pm starts were also put to elected members but 15 councillors said they want to stick with the existing system, while one favoured a 4pm start and seven backed the later choice.
Liberal Democrat Mr Lawrie, who at 22 is the youngest Angus member, and 25-year-old Conservative Mr Davy say they will urge colleagues to think again when they gather tomorrow.
They said: “Angus Council has a skewed age profile, with only a handful of councillors aged under 40.
“One of the biggest barriers to young people standing for election is that the council meets at 2pm, during a time when young people may be working or at university.
“Many other councils meet much later, including Dundee which meets at 6pm which allows those who may work or have other commitments to stand and get elected.
“If Angus Council doesn’t move these times, we will be stuck once again with a council which is shut off to young people, and a council which young people can’t stand for.”
The move would also open up interest in local decision making, they claim.
The pair added: “Members of the public who want to watch and attend council meetings are effectively stopped from doing so as the council meets when most people work.
“By moving the times back, members of the public will be able to attend.”