A new Youth Mayor and Youth cabinet has been elected for 2020/21 in Broxbourne.
The election took place on Wednesday 21 October by members of the Broxbourne Youth Council.
Lloyd Evans, a NCTJ Diploma student at Harlow College, was unanimously re-elected for a second term as the Youth Mayor. Lloyd’s priorities this year as Youth Mayor are health, environmental issues and equality and inclusion.
Lloyd said, “I am thrilled and grateful for the opportunity to stand as Youth Mayor again this year. I hope to achieve the rest of my goals despite all the challenges we are facing. This year will be a great one."
The Youth Mayor is a young person aged 11-18 who is elected by young people to represent them. The Youth Mayor will contribute to discussions impacting on young people, raising issues where appropriate and make an annual report on the work of the Youth Mayor and Youth Council. The Youth Mayor will also chair the Broxbourne Youth Council which is open to all young people aged 11-18 who live or study in the Borough of Broxbourne. The Youth Mayor and the Youth Council are politically neutral.
Ethan Yardley from Goffs Academy was also re-elected as Deputy Youth Mayor for the 2020/21 academic year. Elections were also held for Cabinet positions within the Youth Council. The following members were elected:
- Cabinet Member for Leisure and Social Life - Daniel Akinbogun
- Cabinet Member for Health - Leon Vaughans
- Cabinet Member for Environment - Thomas Jennings
- Cabinet Member for Schools - Adesola Jinadu-Adewale
Cllr Siobhan Monaghan, Cabinet Member for Housing and Community Services said, “I continue to be blown away by the enthusiasm of our Youth Council members, especially considering the current COVID-19 restrictions. They are all amazing young people and a credit to their families and this Borough. Full of energy and enthusiasm, they bring together positive and exciting ideas to improve the lives of young people and the communities they live in. Lloyd had already had a great year as Youth Mayor, and I am looking forward to seeing what this coming year will hold for the mayor and the Youth Council.”
Several members of the Youth Council Cabinet including Adesola Jinadu-Adewale, Cabinet Member for Schools, Thomas Jennings, Cabinet Member for Environment and Daniel Akinbogun, Cabinet Member for Leisure and Social Life organised a Goffs Lane Open Space Litter Pick on Wednesday 28 October. The Litter Pick was a huge success, with approximately 15-20 young people in the park at the time spontaneously helping, alongside the Broxbourne Youth Council Members, and representatives from YC Hertfordshire. The litter pick showed a great deal of enthusiasm for the Youth Mayor’s environmental goals this year.
In total, 11 young people campaigned for a role on the Youth Council Cabinet, with each of them giving a short presentation on why they should be elected and the priorities they wish to see addressed. This year, due to current COVID-19 guidelines, the meeting was held via Microsoft Teams and the votes were taken online.