Minutes:
Present from BYC were Adil Ghani, Zara Louise Livingstone and Joe Collier. Also present was Danie Gordon, LBB Youth Involvement Team Leader. They tabled three documents for the attention of the Committee:
· BYC Youth Manifesto—2015-2016
· BYC Mid-Year Report
· BYC Secondary Campaign—“Youth on the Move”
Mr Ghani explained that BYC were attending the meeting to present on their secondary campaign which was “Youth on the Move”, and he thanked the Committee for their invitation. Whilst undertaken research for the campaign, BYC identified the following:
· They discussed issues about behaviour on public transport; with particular reference to bus transport and how both passengers and drivers behave and interact with each other and passengers
· Young people identified that there were issues and pressures placed upon public transport at key times when young people were travelling to and from school
· There had been much discussion around the issue of Oyster cards, and in particular the consequences of losing or forgetting their cards. There was also a discussion about cost to the public purse.
· Research was conducted on how behaviour on public transport was managed; this included the interaction between transport police and young people and how this could be better managed.
As part of their research, Bromley Youth Council had met with a bus driver to gain his perspective on relevant issues. It gave BYC members an understanding of why bus drivers carried out particular actions.
As part of the research, discussions had been undertaken with TfL, Bromley Safer Transport Police, and Stagecoach. It was also the case that research had been undertaken into previous campaigns initiated by the United Kingdom Youth Parliament. Funding was provided by MOPAC (Mayor’s Office for Policing and Crime) and a survey was developed that was circulated to secondary schools, it was also available on the BYC webpage.
The Committee heard that a poster had been printed and sent to schools, and efforts were being made for the poster to be shown on buses. Stagecoach had agreed to display the poster in Bromley. Discussions were ongoing with Arriva and Go Ahead.
Concern was expressed at the difficulties that young people were faced with if they had lost or forgotten their Oyster or Zip Card. Many had been refused travel, and as a result had been late for school, or left in other difficult circumstances.
Cllr Benington enquired what the bus drivers perceived as being the most difficult times, and what sort of response was received from TfL. BYC responded that the worse time for bus drivers was normally on the journey home from school. The bus drivers also had some concerns relating to overcrowding. The response from TfL was positive, and BYC were now attempting to get a representative onto the TfL Youth Panel.
The Chairman enquired if any work had been undertaken with rail operators. It was the case that BYC had focused on buses as this was the primary form of transport used by young people.
Cllr Hannah Gray asked how BYC intended to disseminate their findings more expansively to drivers and to the public. BYC responded that they were trying to display their poster as widely as possible, and that it was hoped that the poster would also be displayed by Costa and Starbucks. Cllr Gray advocated getting local businesses involved and using social media.
The Chairman and the Committee thanked BYC for all of their hard work, and for an excellent presentation.
RESOLVED that the BYC presentation, mid-year report and Manifesto be noted.