AHEAD of the council’s first youth cabinet and youth mayor elections the Vale of Glamorgan council cabinet have met with the Vale Youth Forum (VYF) to advise its members.

Cabinet members, including council leader Neil Moore, participated in a question and answer session with the VYF members, sharing their expertise and knowledge of local government politics.

The discussions were part of the final stage of training for the VYF members to prepare them to stand in the elections, due to take place next week. The announcement of the Youth Cabinet will take place Monday, March 31, in a presentation ceremony.

The new youth cabinet and youth mayor will seek to give young people a voice on issues under consideration by the council’s cabinet, scrutiny committees and full council.

Cabinet member for children’s services, Councillor Chris Elmore said: “When we formed the administration in 2012 we made a very clear commitment to ensure that young people would have a voice on issues across the council, so I’m delighted to see the youth cabinet and youth mayor elections are now to be held at the end of this month.

"It is vital that young people have a real say on issues not just linked to young people but across council services.”

The VYF is a group of young people aged 11 to 25 with the aim of voicing the opinions of young people and addressing the issues that affect them in their communities.