Liberal Democrats call for Local Decision-Making on Youth Services

9.55.53pm BST (GMT +0100) Tue 26th Jul 2005

This was a lost opportunity for Surrey County Council to involve local people in the youth service.

At the meeting of Surrey County Council today, the Liberal Democrats put forward proposals to give Surrey's Local Committees control of youth services in their areas. This would have committed the Council to act on the recommendation from the Local Committees that there should be joint working with Boroughs and Districts on youth provision.

The motion proposed was: "That the Council takes note of the success of Local Committees with Surrey residents and, in response to the review of governance of such committees, agrees:

a) to delegate the decision-making and budget for the Youth Service to Local Committees, and accordingly,

b) that appropriate officer support be provided to Local Committees."

Diana Smith, the proposer of this motion said: "I am disappointed that the Conservatives refused the proposals, but as usual the Liberal Democrats are in advance in recognising the way forward. Last week the Government published a Green paper on Youth, and if even half the ideas in it are ever realised, there'll be a flood of changes pushing us in the direction of more local decision making in youth provision."

Diana continued: "I'm concerned that if we are not careful we'll end up with a series of obscure unelected partnership committees or Trusts being given the money and taking the important decisions about providing the services that young people need. This was a lost opportunity for Surrey County Council to involve local people in the youth service, while keeping it well run under democratic control."