FENLAND Youth District Council will hold its first meeting next week. High on the agenda will be planning a programme for the year so that the views of young people can be fed in to the district council s plans for future service delivery. At the meeting,

FENLAND Youth District Council will hold its first meeting next week.

High on the agenda will be planning a programme for the year so that the views of young people can be fed in to the district council's plans for future service delivery.

At the meeting, to take place on Wednesday, the young councillors will also be looking at a new grant application scheme whereby they can allocate funding of between £100 and £500 to youth initiatives.

Three students from five schools and community colleges across Fenland - Cromwell in Chatteris, Neale-Wade in March, Sir Harry Smith in Whittlesey and Queen's and Meadowgate in Wisbech - are represented on the YDC.

Launched in July, the YDC will meet at least six times a year, but the young councillors will also be encouraged to attend council and cabinet meetings and shadow portfolio holders to get an overview of the way Fenland District Council operates.

Local Democracy Week, which begins on October 16, will also be on the agenda and it is expected that some councillors will join them on the 'Take a Councillor to School Day'. They will also hold an election for the chairman and vice-chairman.

Establishing a Youth District Council was identified as a key priority by councillors when agreeing the corporate plan for the next three years. Youth District Councils have been successfully used by other local authorities as a means of gaining representative views of young people in the district and providing an opportunity for young people to learn how local government works.

Councillor Steve Garratt, portfolio holder for young people, said: "We have an interesting year ahead and I am looking forward to the young people becoming involved in a variety of ways. I believe the YDC will make a valuable contribution to the whole democratic process."

The e-mail address to contact the Youth District Council is ydc@fenland.gov.uk