Gloucestershire County Council has made a firm commitment to ensure that the voices and needs of young people are carefully considered in all decisions affecting their lives. This pledge reflects the council’s dedication to making policies that fully take into account how children and young people are impacted.
Last week, councillors unanimously supported a Green Party motion calling for greater consultation with young people during the policy-making process. The motion highlights the importance of understanding the unique effects policies may have on younger residents, whose experiences can differ significantly from adults.
Councillor Craig Horrocks (Green, Rodborough), who proposed the motion at the full council meeting on November 12, emphasized the council’s goal: “We want Gloucestershire to be a place where young people can thrive, whether you’re a teenager discovering your path or in your twenties building your future.”
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He pointed out that broader policies often affect young people in distinct ways. For example, changes to bus routes could leave those too young or unable to drive with no viable transportation options. Similarly, closures of youth clubs, sports venues, and community spaces can severely limit social opportunities, especially when accessing pubs and cafes is often restricted by age, location, or finances.
The council will introduce a framework to make sure that young people’s needs are thoughtfully and meaningfully integrated into significant policy decisions.
Ben Evans (Liberal Democrat, Brockworth), cabinet member for children’s safeguarding and care, praised the motion and highlighted the importance of including young people’s perspectives in politics. “Getting young people’s voices into councils is really important because politics is littered with people who have either been youth workers or have come through youth councils and such,” he said.
While welcoming the initiative, Councillor Vernon Gray (Reform UK, Tuffley and Moreland) urged a careful approach, noting that children in care or social services might not represent the broader youth population.
Stephen Davies (Conservative, Hardwicke and Severn), group leader, underscored the importance of genuine engagement, stressing that “It needs to be representative and not tokenistic. It’s very important that we don’t only give them a voice but that we listen to that voice.”
Beki Hoyland, Green Party leader (Blakeney and Bream), expressed optimism about the council’s unanimous support, calling it “a really positive step forward” to formally embed young people’s voices in policy decisions.
With this motion now officially adopted, Gloucestershire County Council is taking a vital step toward building a more inclusive and youth-focused community.