A YOUNG mayor may sit as the head of a new youth council for Bridport if a proposal takes off.

David Powell and Coun Lauren Glover set out the idea to members of Bridport Town Council’s finance and general purposes committee.

The idea is to give young people a say and influence in issues affecting them and the town.

Mr Powell, who is a former head teacher and a worker for UNICEF’s rights respecting campaign for young people, said it would be a tangible outcome of good work carried out over recent years.

Coun Glover, who works with young people in Bridport and Beaminster, said: “There is a definite interest there.

“There is a definite group of young people interested in doing it.”

The youth service has promised £500 to help launch the youth council.

Mr Powell and Coun Glover said that the initiative could include a young mayor as well as youth council.

Councillors welcomed the idea but also wanted to make sure young people were involved who were more vulnerable or less likely to step forward.

They agreed to set up a working party to investigate the idea further.

Mayor David Rickard said: “I am very interested in this.

“I saw a programme some time ago on young mayors and it would be brilliant if we could do it.

“Most young mayors are usually associated with much larger councils.”

Mr Powell said that the drive for involvement had come from young people in the area.

He added: “The difference in Bridport is that the young people approached a group of us first of all.

“That is unusual.

“There has been a groundswell from a group of young people who have reached out.”

Town surveyor Daryl Chambers pointed out that involving young people in other projects such as the West Bay play area and skatepark had cut vandalism and trouble.

Coun Karl Wallace gained assurances at the meeting that young people from Bradpole and Bothenhampton would have the chance to be involved.

Mr Powell said the idea could be rolled out to Lyme Regis and Beaminster if successful in Bridport.

l What do you think? Write to Postbag, 67 East Street, Bridport, DT6 3LB or email postbag@bridportnews.co.uk.