The Greater Taree City Council (GTCC) general manager and mayor will meet with Wingham’s youth leaders this morning to discuss the establishment of a youth council.

GM Gerard José and mayor Eddie Loftus will talk with students in Wingham High’s staff common room.

This meeting follows the inaugural Youth Leadership Forum which was held at Wingham High last term with the aim of creating a youth council to be a forum for youth views and issues that would liaise with GTCC on a regular basis.

The hope is that a youth council of five students – comprising students from the schools in the local government area – would meet with the general manager of the council once every school term to strengthen the links between young people and local government decision makers.

Councillor Mave Richardson was impressed with the motivated young people she met when she spoke at last term’s forum.

“I have high hopes for this innovative way to liaise with youth and for them to advise local government,” she said.

“These young people are the leaders of tomorrow.”

The youth council, if endorsed by GTCC, is likely to have its first meeting mid-2009.