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Local Democracy Week

10-16 October 2011

Local Democracy Week took place from 10-16 October 2011 with a series of activities for children and young people in Merton.

Each year Merton celebrates Local Democracy Week and organises events that bring together our elected politicians with future generations of electors. This year, our programme of events included:

• Tours of the Civic Centre for local Primary schools every weekday during the week. These tours were extremely popular; the lucky pupils who had places were able to meet the Mayor in her Parlour, go up on the roof of the 14-storey Civic Centre, and visit the Council Chamber where key meetings take place.
• Mitcham and Morden MP Siobhain McDonagh hosted over 100 local children from across ten primary schools in her constituency at the Houses of Parliament for one morning. This year was the fourth year running that Ms McDonagh MP hosted this extremely popular tour.
• A speed networking event between members of Merton Youth Parliament and the Council's Cabinet and Shadow Cabinet took place where Youth Parliament members grilled councillors, including Leader of the Council, Stephen Alambritis, with challenging questions about local services and issues affecting today's young people.
• A talk on local democracy and the role of councillors was given by Councillor Ray Tindle and Councillor Maurice Groves to members of the Merton Children's Council at their Annual General Meeting.  The talk was followed by a questions and answers session.
  

In addition, some individual councillors arranged visits to local schools to talk about being a councillor and local democracy in Merton, including:

• A talk to Year 10 pupils of Wimbledon High School by Councillor Suzanne Evans.
• Talks to a number of schools in her ward by Councillor Maxi Martin.
• A talk from Councillor John Bowcott to sixth form students of Ricards Lodge about the various levels of government and public accountability, followed by a Question and Answer session.

Local Democracy Week is a European initiative. You can find out more at Local Democracy Week (Council of Europe website).  Local Democracy Week 2012 will run from 15 - 20 October.  If you would like further information on how your school could get involved, contact us at getinvolved@merton.gov.uk.

Contact us

Consultation and Community Engagement
London Borough Merton
Merton Civic Centre
SM4 5DX

Tel: 020 8545 3857
Email: GetInvolved@merton.gov.uk