On Thursday, November 20, North Herts Council welcomed 25 students from local schools to its chamber for an action-packed Youth Democracy Day, part of UK Parliament Week.

The council's chamber was filled with students aged 16 to 18, to help mark the annual UK Parliament Week (24-30 November). Students from Highfield School (Letchworth), Knights Templar (Baldock), and Priory School (Hitchin), along with council apprentices, took part in a varied programme designed to bring democracy to life.

The day included input from Chris Hinchliff MP for North East Herts, as well as local district and county Councillors. A council overview and information on the process of voting was given, as well as a 'Ask Your Councillor' session with the students split into groups to enable them to get to know and ask questions directly to a cross-party group of district and county councillors.

This included all three group leaders, Cllr Daniel Allen (Labour & Co-operative), Cllr Ruth Brown (Liberal Democrat) and Cllr Ralph Muncer (Conservative). A further highlight of the day was a Women in Politics panel, chaired by the Deputy Leader of the Council, Councillor Val Bryant.

The panel featured Councillor Amy Allen, who serves as the Executive Member for Environment at North Herts Council and also works as a caseworker for Chris Hinchliff MP; Fiona Hill, who has previously served as a district, county, and town councillor; and Helen Maguire, Member of Parliament for Epsom and Ewell and the Liberal Democrat Spokesperson for Primary Care and Cancer.

To deepen their understanding of democratic processes, students participated in a mock council debate considering the question of whether a maximum voting age should be established. After lively discussion, an informal motion was put forward, and participants ultimately voted against introducing any upper age limit for voting rights.

Cllr Daniel Allen, Leader of North Herts Council, and Executive Member for Governance, said: "It was great to host so many young people and see them get involved with all the activities we planned.

"I particularly enjoyed hearing what they had to say about not having a maximum voting age. It's so important for young people to learn about local democracy – how it affects their everyday lives and how it fits into the national picture."

Students described the day as "inspiring" and "eye-opening", with one attendee saying: "The Women in Politics panel was really inspiring and highlighted important issues faced by women in leadership."

Melanie Stimpson, Democratic Services Manager, said: "Youth democracy day is a fantastic opportunity for those that attended as it is so varied and action-packed. It provides direct access to a diverse range of people from all walks of politics.

"It's vital to show the breadth of democracy, the many roles within it, and the pathways into those roles as potential career opportunities. We're grateful to everyone who participated and gave their time to present.

"A special thanks to the Committee, Member and Scrutiny team for their outstanding effort in delivering such a well-organised and engaging programme."