Question Time for Norfolk's politicians as Local Democracy Week gets underway

Added: 15/10/2008
Category: Norfolk County Council

Young people from across Norfolk will able to quiz politicians, police and council officers this week as they take part in a “Question Time” event in Sprowston.

Norfolk's members of youth parliament with join young people from the Connexions Youth Council, Norfolk Youth Fund, OPEN, children in care and the young people behind Norfolk County Council's Blurb website, to put questions to councillors and staff from Norfolk County Council Children's Services.

The event is being organised by Norfolk County Council as part of Local Democracy Week and the panel will include: Daniel Cox, Leader of Norfolk County Council; Rosalie Monbiot, Norfolk County Council Cabinet Member for Children's Services; Sue Whitaker, Leader of the County Council's Labour group; Paul Morse, Leader of the County Council's Liberal Democrat group; Fiona McDiarmid, Chief Executive of Norfolk Connexions; Malcolm Griffiths, the County Council's service manager for corporate parenting; Jonathan Stanley, Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services strategic development officer and Fred Corbett, Deputy Director of Children's Services.

Questions are expected to relate to transport, recycling, the development of youth work and issues affecting children in care.

Daniel Cox, Leader of Norfolk County Council, said: “Norfolk's young people are the county's future and we place huge value on their opinions. We know that they have some fantastic ideas and some genuine concerns and we need to engage with them in order to ensure the future success and vibrancy of the county.

We are committed to raising young people's aspirations and to do this we must ensure that they know their ideas and views are valued. It is also crucial to get them involved in the democratic process as early as possible to ensure they develop into active citizens who are engaged in the political process.”

The event will take place at Norfolk County Council's Youth Work Development Unit in School Lane, Sprowston from 5pm to 7.30pm on Tuesday 14 October. Members of the media are welcome to attend.