Members of Weston and North Somerset Trades Union Council and young people from youth clubs across North Somerset demonstrated at tonight's council meeting against massive cuts to services, including the complete removal of the youth service.
There were 6 public speakers, 4 of whom spoke for Youth Services including Richard Capps, Secretary of Weston and North Somerset Trades Union Council, Monica Stanley from UNITE, and Helen Thornton from UNISON.
The council had one of the longest debates ever in a budget meeting, but despite an amendment put forward by Green, Labour, and Liberal Democrat councillors to save Youth Services, the massive Conservative majority voted against the amendment and by doing so have completely removed the professional youth service from North Somerset as of 1st April 2012.
Opposition councillors accused the Tories of not caring about young people. They also accused them of not listening to young people, especially as this was the 3rd protest by young people at a council meeting, and Mike Bell presented UNITE's petition with 3261 signatures against the closure of youth services.
Our Secretary spoke on the BBC local news coverage (12 minutes, 31 seconds in) - here's the link: http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b01cbms7/BBC_Points_West_21_02_2012/
Here's the link to the ITV local news coverage: http://www.itv.com/westcountry-east/
