Constitution

1. Name

The name of the organisation shall be the Lambeth Youth Council or abbreviated as LYC.

2. Premises

The premises at which the activities of the Lambeth Youth Council shall be carried out is Lambeth Town Hall. The address to which all form of communications is sent to is: B17, Lambeth Town Hall, Brixton Hill, SW2 1RW.

3. Terms of reference

London Borough of Lambeth recognises LYC as a representative voice of young people in Lambeth between 11-25 years of age. This includes eighty per cent of young people within Lambeth Youth Council being up to the age of 21 and 205 being over the age of 21 years. This also includes no young people being able to join after their 21st birthday. It serves as a platform for young people to engage in constructive dialogue and partnership with adults involved in decision-making towards addressing their needs and aspirations, through participation in youth provisions and Town Centre and other Youth Forums. The objective is to improve the opportunities and quality of life for young people with in the borough.

4. The aims of the LYC are:

To be a forum for young people to express their views and priorities, and work in partnership with decision-makers to influence policy and practice affecting young people.
To be a democratic body, with its membership aimed to be representative of all young people within the Borough of Lambeth, reflecting a balance of gender, ethnic background, disability, religion, race and sexuality.
To encourage a culture of participation in the democratic process and to develop and promote the highest standards of service and citizenship.
To provide a forum for young people to convey their ideas and priorities to Lambeth Council.
To provide a framework for Lambeth Council and other agencies to consult with young people.
To deliver projects that foster the Hear By Rights and Every Child Matters agendas, and address the needs of young people in Lambeth as stated by them.

5. The objectives of the LYC are:

To ensure there is no gap between young people and those with the decision-making capacity.
To develop networks for young people within the Borough of Lambeth.
To ensure young people are aware of their value and power to make a difference.
To make recommendations on policies and strategies that may affect the quality of life and opportunities for young people.
To identify and redress forms of discrimination, negative stereotypes and prejudice against young people.
To develop links with organisations such as the British Youth Council and UK Youth Parliament to ensure best practice is shared amongst all partners.
To enable young people within Lambeth Youth Council projects such as Peer Education, Peer Inspection and the Youth Mayor Initiative to gain accreditation such as Youth Achievement Awards and AQA’S through personal development plans for their work on the Youth Council.

6. Membership

To become a member of the LYC, a young person must complete the LYC membership form and successful placement through an induction meeting, attendance of two Youth Council meetings, a Youth Council Members Pack with personal development plans set in place for all young people involved in carious Lambeth Youth Council projects ( please see above)
The Youth Council is open and available to any young person who lives, works, studies or socialises in the borough of Lambeth between the ages of 11 yrs- 25yrs. All young people within Lambeth are welcome to attend and contribute to meetings.
Within Youth Council meetings only members can vote on decisions made for Lambeth Youth Council.
Youth Mayor advisory Panel:
Each calendar year, The Youth Mayor (also referred to as the official chair of Lambeth Youth Council) will be nominated and elected from a Borough wide election. However, ensure a fair, transparent democratic process, each Lambeth Youth Council General Meeting in accordance with permission from the official Chair The Youth Mayor Advisory Panel also consist of the following representatives where possible:

Youth Mayor (Chair)
Deputy Youth Mayor (Vice-Chair)
UKYP Rep
Deputy UKYP Rep
2 members of the LYC Peer Inspection Team
2 members of the LYC Junior Peer Inspection Team
2 members of the LYC Peer Education Team
2 members of the Voice of Young Lambeth Consultation Forum
2 members of the Youth Opportunity Fund (YOF)
The young people who achieve 3rd and 4th place in the Youth Mayor elections
Maximum of 5 general representative Lambeth young people

Membership is renewable yearly, in January of each year. All members must be between the ages of 11 and 21 and live, work or study in the London Borough of Lambeth.This is to develop a Youth Advisory Panel Action Plan that supports children and young peoples projects across Lambeth with the support of the Youth Participation Officer and relevant Cabinet and Deputy Cabinet members to action and utilise the £25,000 Youth Mayor Fund
To be nominated for election for the Youth Mayor, a young person must be at least 11 years of age and no more than 21 years old during the life-span of their appointment. To be elected or nominated as a UK Youth Parliament Representative a young person must be at least 11 to 18 years.
Should a Lead Post leave Lambeth Youth Council or the Youth Advisory Panel another young person should be elected or nominated in hierarchal order.
Lead Post holders wishing to leave the Lambeth Youth Council must give two weeks’ written notice to the Lambeth Youth Council Development Manger and the official Chair of Lambeth Youth Council.

7. Posts

The AGM each year is the official date for Posts such as the Secretary to step down and nominations to be taken for the following year.
Lambeth Youth Council is made up of the following but not extensively to;

Youth Mayor (Borough wide, elected)
Deputy Youth Mayor (Borough wide, elected)
Secretary of Lambeth Youth Council (elected at the AGM)
United Kingdom Youth Parliamentarian (UKYP) (Borough wide, elected)
Deputy UKYP member (Borough wide, elected)
6 Lambeth Youth Council project team members that include Peer Educators, Peer Inspectors and the Voice of Young Lambeth.

Lambeth Youth Council General Meetings will be arranged and organised by the Youth Council Secretary.
Each person elected to the Lambeth Youth Council can hold a post to a maximum of three consecutive one-year periods but only if re-elected after each AGM.
In urgent situations the Lambeth Youth Council Members can make decisions, which must then be ratified at the next meeting of the Lambeth Youth Council for confirmation.

9. Members of Lambeth Youth Council responsibility

To uphold the reputation of the Lambeth Youth Council at all times and adhere the policy standards.
Secretary: The Secretariat role is an elected role like all members of the Youth Advisory Panel. The Secretary’s role is as follows: Attend all meetings of the Lambeth Youth Council including the Annual General Meeting (AGM). Record correctly the names of all persons present at all meetings, prepare and keep the Minutes of all Meetings.
All copies of minutes shall (if desired by the Executive of Lambeth Council) be delivered to the Executive and the relevant Scrutiny Committee of Lambeth Council.
Summon and give due notice of all meetings including the Youth Council.
This is the responsibility for communicating relevant information.

10. Meetings

Lambeth Youth Council will meet once a month on a continuation basis
A quorum of 5 members of Lambeth Youth Council that includes the official Chair at a Youth Council meeting need to be present before decisions can be made.
Guests may attend if authorised by the Chairperson (or appropriate representative) and support workers may be present with their young people.
Meetings of the Lambeth Youth Council will start at 6.30pm
Meetings will be held at Lambeth Town Hall or an agreed available suitable venue.

11. Annual General Meetings (AGM)

The LYC Development Manager shall call an Annual General Meeting, no later than 12 months after the first scheduled meeting per calendar year.
The LYC Development Manager shall present an Annual Report to the Annual General Meeting (AGM) and a statement of the previous years accounts
14 days notice of the Lambeth Youth Council AGM shall be given to all MYC.
Any amendments to LYC constitution shall be made and instated at the AGM.

12. Additional meetings

On written requisition of five members of the LYC the Secretariat shall call (giving not less than seven days prior written notice) an emergency meeting to conduct only the business which is the subject of the requisition.
Sub group and working group meetings can be arranged as and when required.

13. Convening a meeting

The Secretariat will ensure that each committee member receives Minutes and an Agenda five clear working days (meaning Monday to Friday (inclusive) and excluding Christmas Day and Bank Holidays) before a meeting of the Lambeth Youth Council General Meeting

14. Voting

All decisions should be reached by a majority of those present and eligible to vote.
Decisions can only be reached if a quorum of 5 members of Lambeth Youth Council are present for the vote (see section 10 (iii)
In the event of a vote being equal, the Chair will have the casting vote.
Both anonymous and open voting will be employed as required.

15. Constitution

Any changes to the constitution must be agreed at an AGM, by a two-thirds majority. Proposals for changes to the constitution must be given to the Secretary at least 14 days before the AGM so that they can be included in the agenda.
In the first year, the Constitution may be amended by the Executive in consultation with members of the Youth Council. Any change will require a simple majority.

16. Structure

Lambeth Youth Council will be supported by Lambeth Youth Council team Officer and the Youth Support Service.
Lambeth Youth Council will have the right to request a dialogue with members/officers in the local authority as appropriate.
Lambeth Youth Council will consist of the Executive Committee and the Peer Education, Peer Inspection and Youth Consultation, youth led projects.

17. Finance

The LYC Members are able to review the financial status of the Lambeth Youth Council and any body sponsored directly by it and for these purposes it shall:

review the annual budget of income and expenditure which shall be prepared by the Youth Council Development Manager
be aware of all grants given to Lambeth Council.

The LYC Members shall not incur any expenditure which cannot be met from budgeted funds.

The Financial Year is from the first day of April in one year to the thirty-first day of March in the following year.

18. Other working groups of the LYC

The Lambeth Youth Council may establish other Sub Groups to support its core purposes.
Such additional Sub groups will be task-specific and time-limited to encourage wide and changing participation and continued review such as the Youth Mayor Advisory Panel.
The membership of Sub Groups in agreement with LYC may be considered appropriate to completing their tasks.
The Executive Committee may delegate to any Sub Group, decision-making powers it considers appropriate, or reserve a right of endorsement or rejection of any proposals from any Sub Group.
A Sub Group, once formed, may co-opt any further membership it considers appropriate to assist it in achieving its task. Such co-opted members will not have voting rights unless they become member for Lambeth Youth Council
The purposes, time-scales, powers and membership of Sub Groups may be reporting with findings considered at any LYC meeting and will be considered at the AGM.
Sub Groups may, if they wish, appoint a Secretary from their members.

19. Complaints

The LYC Members shall investigate any complaints arising out of a meeting or brought to their attention.

20. Dissolution

If the LYC members should at any time resolve that on financial or other grounds it is necessary or desirable to dissolve the Lambeth Youth Council , 100 per cent of all young peoples votes that include all young people on LYC projects with one months notice. LYC members have to place in writing their concerns and reasons why it is needed for approval for Lambeth Council and Lambeth Cabinet that would include transferring the balance of assets of the Lambeth Youth Council to the London Borough of Lambeth.

21. Expulsion from Lambeth Youth Council

Any member absent from three consecutive LYC members and subgroup meetings, without reasonable explanation and within a period of twelve months from his/her appointment, shall be put to the vote by the Executive Committee as to whether the person remains a member of the Lambeth Youth Council or should be expelled from Lambeth Youth Council and relinquish any titles and positions held.
All members and participants of Lambeth Youth Council and its subgroups are subject to Lambeth Council policies, procedures and protocols.
In the event that a young person conducts paid work for Lambeth Youth Council, they will be required to act in a professional manner be subject to child protection safety precautions including completion of a Criminal Records Enhanced Disclosure Check (CRB)
Should a member or participant of LYC misuse resources, abuse power or bring the LYC into disrepute, they will be subject to investigation procedures which could result in termination if situation warrants. The Executive Committee will represent LYC for any investigations.
In the event that an Executive Member is under investigation, they will be asked to step down from their positions pending the outcome of the investigation.
A member that has been dismissed from LYC can not be reinstated as a member of the LYC.

22. Codes of conduct for meetings and equal

It is important that all participating young people are given the opportunity to express their view and are treated with equal courtesy.
To ensure that Lambeth Youth Council meetings are conducted in a spirit of equality and informality in which all opinions can be heard.
All participants in Lambeth Youth Council have a responsibility to conduct themselves in a way that does not cause offence to others or limit in any way their ability to participate in meetings. This responsibility extends to LYC resources and property.
Unacceptable behaviour including racist, sexist or other derogatory remarks or actions, behaviour that intimidates people who are speaking or wish to speak. This includes preventing people from expressing their views through means such as interrupting or talking while they are speaking.
Members of Lambeth Youth Council should be particularly sensitive to the needs of those members who may not be used to speaking in public or whose first language is not English.
Members of Lambeth Youth Council or members of the public who feel that this code of conduct has been breached should raise it with the Chair either at the time or immediately after the meeting.
The Chair, on advice of the relevant officer(s), will judge whether the individual has breached the code of conduct. If conformation of a breach the Chair will address the issues of concern to the individual that such behaviour is not acceptable both verbally and in writing.
If the unacceptable behaviour persists a ‘Motion’ will be put to the meeting to suspend the person or persons from the meeting. Future participation by the person will be dependent upon a commitment being given in writing to the Chair and Lambeth Youth Council Development Manger that behaviour will not recur.
Continued breaches of the code of conduct by Members of Lambeth Youth Council will result in membership being withdrawn by a simple majority of those present and voting at the Lambeth Youth Council meeting.

» Back to top