News

Question Time…North Down Style

18 October 2007

Question Time came to North Down on Thursday (18 October) when councillors were grilled by young people from four local schools on topics ranging from recycling to integrated education to anti-social behaviour.

Forty pupils, aged 14-17, from Bangor Academy, Bangor Grammar, Glenlola, and Priory Integrated College came to Bangor Town Hall to participate in the event, which was organised as part of Local Democracy Week. The pupils were met by the Mayor of North Down, Councillor Dr Stephen Farry, MLA, and given an overview of the working of the Council. They then worked with Lisa Rae, a facilitator from the Public Achievement, to design their perfect Councillors…this resulted in much debate!

Students then entered the Council chamber and had the opportunity to put their questions to local councillors representing the Alliance, Democratic Unionist, Green and Ulster Unionist parties.

North Down Councillor and MLA Peter Weir was involved in organising the event and comments, “Last year for Local Democracy Week North Down Borough Council organised a political speed dating session. This year we wanted to organise an event that would facilitate more in-depth discussion and ‘Question Time’ seemed the perfect format. Thankfully North Down Councillors were happy to put themselves in the hot seats and we enjoyed a lively, frank and good natured debate.”

Mayor of North Down, Councillor Stephen Farry has also welcomed the event, saying, “This event provides an excellent opportunity for young people in North Down to meet the councillors that represent them; to find out more about the role councillors play in the community and how they can represent young people’s rights and views. Equally it is a great opportunity for Councillors to really hear what young people think about local issues and what they would like to see happen in the Borough that they live in.”

The Question Time event was organised as part of Local Democracy Week, which is aimed at providing a way for young people to engage in local democracy and speak directly to their Borough’s decision-makers.

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