It was a first! (or a second!)

Once referred to by former Town Councillor Dr John Courtneidge as "the jewel in the Town Council's crown" - did you know that Hertford Town Council's Youth Town Council was the first of it's kind in England?

It's True that a similar "Youth for Whole Town" Council was emerging somewhere in Cheshire at the same time, but Hertford was certainly innovating here in the South.

Now well into its second decade, our Youth Council has motivated many young citizens to work for their town, our town, over the years.

Its mark of quality is educationally sound. Hertford Youth Councillors do not have a selfish agenda. They don't do just "youth for youth" although that is part of their constitution. Their tasks are much more challenging. They shadow all elements of the work of their parent body Hertford Town Council, including its ginger group role. Hertford Youth Town Councillors are young eyes and ears in the Town. They work as an executive group; they charge their secretary Trish Goldsmith with tasks; they spend their own budget for the good of the town; they stage their own events.

Through their Chairman, the Mayor, they have a fast conduit to the Town Council. Their lively meetings are based on full formalities, codes of conduct and proper standing orders. The Council is not a cosy discussion group. Youth Town Councillors support Town Councillors at civic events and they help maintain civic tradition.

Experience has shown that they often find a quick way forward on issues ranging from the Highways and Planning (gingering the larger Authorities) to providing street furniture, promoting Customer Care Awards in Hertford shops, an interpretation board for young children spotting wild-life from the safety of their play area in the Castle Grounds, and so on and on.

Youth Town Councillor Katherine Woollgar said, "It's been hard work, but at the end of our meetings I feel we've achieved something for the community. We have private preparation meetings before the big decision making meetings, where we thrash things out together, but they don't prevent lively debate at the formal meetings for the Mayor to keep in order. I've now had several years of insight into Local Government and I've enjoyed working with all political party people. I think we can say that Hertford is just that much better a place for all, as a result of our time and effort."

And we do get fun out of it! A planned trip to one of the twin towns in the summer should come into that category. We'll be doing our bit, of course, for international relations……and I've often fancied the life of an ambassador abroad.

Cllr Peter Ruffles