If you think a Shropshire Youth Card is a good idea, sign the petition below and we will send you more information as it become available.
| Mo Osman | We need somewhere to go that we can afford. |
| Jamie Taylor | I think young people should be eligible to cheaper travel. I am paying 60p for a small journey to the town centre, this used to cost me 45p, but child prices became adult. |
| Ross Hanning | I'm fed up of being stuck in the middle of nowhere and having to save just to go out of my village travel costs more to go 7 miles to my nearest town than it does to go about 35 miles to Shrewsbury WHERE IS THE LOGIC? |
SSDC’s October Working Group report:
LibDem group leader of Shropshire County Council, Cllr Peter Philips, prepared a report to SSDC’s Working Group (Oct 9) regarding the viability of a Shropshire Youth discount Card.
07_10_09_1_YouthTravelDiscountCard.pdf
Peter is also a member of South Shropshire District Council
Liberal Democrats are now going to question the way in which the County Council consults its young people, including the Youth Parliament.
“The Board entirely cleared me of any case” said Cllr Phillips “The campaign leaflets etc-was vigorous and correct and, as one head teacher said, exactly the sort of active citizenship that our young people should be aware of-indeed engaged in”.
But Cllr Phillips pointed out that the complaints-including some from council officers-expressed serious concerns about the way youth consultation took place. He has asked former M.P. Matthew Green, to look into the matter- Matthew was formally a Director and Trustee of the UK Youth Parliament.
Matthew Green said, “It seems pretty clear that the young people have not been awakened to the fact that the County Council is a political organisation; that straightforward campaigning has been omitted from their education; and it is the case that their meetings and discussions with the County Council have been exclusively with officers and Tory councillors (until Peter insisted on budget presentation by all 3 parties). This lack of political balance is unacceptable and not what I experienced in the National UK Youth Parliament.”
Cllr Phillips resigned yesterday as Chairman of the County’s Children and Young Peoples Scrutiny Panel in order to have a free hand for any “repercussions” from the Enquiry.
Cllr Peter Phillips' resignation statement
"I regret I feel constrained to resign as Chair of CYP Scrutiny.
"In February, complaints were lodged against me to The Standards Board. They related to my campaigning activities for a Youth Discount Card. Those supporting the complaints included two Cabinet members and Officers of the County Council. The resultant 6 - 7 months have been the most unpleasantly stressful in my 20 plus years’ association with the authority.
"Last month, I was relieved to be exonerated from any misconduct : and, indeed, all the campaigning activities were validated. I do regret none of my accusers’ having had the grace to acknowledge this; and it seems unjust that while my name and case are in the public domain, those supporting the complaints remain anonymous.
"The repercussions are unclear : but you will understand that I wish to have a completely free hand. I shall remain Lib Dem spokesman and indeed an interested attender.
"You have been very supportive of the Panel’s work. I should like to acknowledge your keen-ness, commitment and hard work, which made my task very worthwhile; and the kind personal comments offered. I know you will extend the same support to my successor."
Young people have been stating for years that their top priorities are evening and late night bus/minibus services at affordable fares, and discounted leisure facilities.
We the undersigned requests all local authorities in Shropshire to introduce a youth discount card that would provide discounted travel, access to local community and leisure facilities .
