YOUNG people in Stevenage are being given a chance to tell the borough council what they like and don t like about their town. During Local Democracy Week this week the council is working with Herts County Council, asking young people What s it like livi

YOUNG people in Stevenage are being given a chance to tell the borough council what they like and don't like about their town.

During Local Democracy Week this week the council is working with Herts County Council, asking young people "What's it like living in Stevenage?" and filming their answers.

This method of consultation is seen as giving immediate, face-to-face feedback from a group that might not otherwise get involved in council consultation.

The council wants to encourage participation with young people and find out what is important to them, how they perceive local government and what they would do differently to improve life in the town.

Their comments as well as responses from relevant councillors and council officers will be on www.hert slink.org/voxpop by the end of November and people logging in can also give their opinions about what has been said.

This is the second vox pop filming session this year. The first was at the Stevenage Town Show and provided excellent feedback.

Of this week's exercise, borough council leader Sharon Taylor said: "This is a great chance for us to get face-to face feedback about our services, the decisions we make and the way we spend public money from a group of people that traditional consultation methods don't always reach.

"Talking and listening to what young people think is very important as it's not just over 18s that we provide services to."

o In North Herts, a Youth Question Time based on the BBC programme was due to be staged at lunchtime today (Thursday) at Plinston Hall, in Letchworth GC.

Young people were invited to quiz a panel chaired by Nicholas Moss and made up of Cllr Sarah Wren (Con), Cllr David Kearns (Lab), Cllr Steve Jarvis (Lib Dem), Darren Isted, editor of The Comet, Mohamed Alam from the North Herts Minority Ethnic Forum, and Bob Mardon who leads the organisation of Rhythms of the World.