County Hall plans to ease cuts (From thisisoxfordshire)

That's all very nice, but what about adults and older people services??

If the ridiculous Oxford 'Youf Parliament' is still being funded, clearly we need another, worse credit crunch. But of course, spend away...its not real money after all is it - just 'Council' money. But I wonder where they get it from?

Mitchell = Thatcher in a homeopathic dose, I part per hundred million (or less)

Some Tory

You are very short sighted. Ignore the youth of Oxfordshire at your peril! I suspect you would be the first to complain about youths "hanging aroung on street corners" causing a disturbance. Don't discount the value of an excellent Youth Service. If you feel so strongly about your council tax monies being wasted, then I suggest you get your a***es down to your local youth centre and do some serious volunteering, stop complaining, and engage with some of the wonderful young people who will be on OCC in the future!

Oxfordshire County Council is far over-resourced and can be cut by at least 40% !!
I suppose they will just increase the council tax to the local community in order to get the costs back.
This is only due to the incompetent actions of the Council Leader Keith Mitchell!!!
Shame on him!

Chalkster you are either very naive, or just like an argument. The kind of kids you mention that hang around on street corners have no interest in going to youf clubs. They get their kicks by hanging around on street corners and beating people up. Now if you use your whatever it is you have, to get rid of street corners, then you solve the problem.

One of the highest priorities for local police teams in the Thames Valley is Anti-Social Behaviour. And we all understand that this is down to a large number of young people with very few places to go of an evening.
Now, lets be clear on this point: these young people might not want to join the scouts, guides, archery club or salsa dancing lessons. Young people want to hang out with their mates. But where can they hang out with their mates and not end up as a statistic of ASB?

They need youth Centres, Youth Clubs, U18 discos and they need us oldies to understand that youngsters need an outlet!


If we had more facilities like Base 33 and youth clubs then we'd have a chance but we also need to give young people a voice.

Whatever you might think of the Oxfordshire fire cadet scheme and the Oxfordshire Youth Parliament, they, like our own Carterton Youth Council, empower young people and provide us with the opportunity to engage with them and find a joined up way forward!

I'm very proud of my Youth Councillors, They are fantastic young people and an example to us all!

Perhaps you are right McV, maybe I do like an argument! As for being naive NO! You are being naive, IF you are a parent, then I suspect your little darlings do not fit into the "beating people for kicks" category amd most parents would say their children were safely tucked up in bed by 10.00pm every evening. It is NEVER their children engaging in ASB in their neighbourhood. Do not tar all young people with the same brush. You have a very poor opinion of teenagers don't you? I say again, how about volunteering at a youth centre and getting to know some!

On Friday 30th October, over 300 young people from around the country took over the House of Commons chamber.

It was the first time anyone other than MPs have debated in the Commons and sat on the green benches.

The historic move saw elected 11-18 year-old Members of Youth Parliament debate issues of concern to young people across the UK.

The Speaker of the House of Commons, Rt Hon. John Bercow MP said:

"I am delighted to welcome the Youth Parliament delegates to the House. This is an historic moment and one which I hope will show young people that the House of Commons, and the work that goes on here, is relevant to their lives."
(from www.ukyouthparliamen
t.org.uk)

The Young People of today are going to be our leaders of tomorrow - that is why it is important that the Youth Parliament continues, and I daresay they were better behaved in the house of commons than a lot of MPs are at times.

Trying to demonise young people by implying that any that hang around on street corners do so with the intention of beating people up and using the word 'youf' instead of youth shows the immaturity of the writers. Do not confuse immaturity with age!

And please don't think that it was different in your day - I too used to hang around on street corners - the only itention being to hang around and have a laugh with my mates - (and we are talking hanging around on street corners in South London here, not somewhere in Oxfordshire) in fact I sometimes still do when I'm chatting with young people that might be there too!

The chalkster and ADC seem to have the mature approach.