Divisions remain over funding and it is unclear how the place would operate but it was agreed that a new youth advisory committee would be formed and asked for its views.

These recommendations would then come back to the decision-making council of seven members.

At the council meeting, Deputy Mayor Carol Sparks who is the main driving force behind the plan for a “youth hub” outlined her vision.

She said it would be called a “Youth, Art and Cultural Centre” and would offer “a safe space where (young people) could access the (council) youth worker)“.

It was needed as a separate space from school. She was concerned about the levels of school bullying and youth suicide and the dangers of drugs and alcohol. 

There would be advice on sexual health as well as cooking classes, boxing and musical pursuits. There would be teachers with “exceptional skills”. There would be an “art park” at the back.

It would be for all youth and not just troubled youth.

It would be open during the week and sometimes at weekends. She indicated it would close when the full-time council youth worker left at the end of the day.

The main division on the council is over funding, with the three-councillor minority (Crs Steve Toms, Colin Price and Jeff Smith) worrying that the money hasn’t been allocated in spending plans which have already been agreed.

Cr Sparks said that an application would go in for money from the state’s cultural fund. She was confident money would come forward: “I don’t think there’s any need to worry about the funding”, she said. “The funding will be there”.

The meeting was civil and even, at times, constructive. 

Mayor Toms hinted at exasperation once when he said: “I find the whole thing extraordinary”.

Deputy Mayor Sparks hinted at exasperation once when she said: “It’s just mind boggling that you are not on board with this”.

There was a polite altercation between Cr Sparks and Cr Price when she suggested that the council had not had a problem finding $14,000 for four flag poles at the Standing Stones. He replied that the money had not come from general council funds.

On staffing, Cr Sparks said that there were many volunteers who had already promised to help, including off duty police officers.

Cr Andrew Parsons made several proposals to save money elsewhere, including cutting the use of council vehicles by council staff. General manager Hein Basson said that other councils offered this benefit and to take it away would make it harder to recruit good staff.

Cr Parsons’ view was that the youth centre was essential and clarity on funding could be achieved. “Costing is at an early stage”, he said.

There was some concern about how the youth centre would fit in with the Pathfinders organisation which is setting up a hostel in the old Royal Hotel. Could that not also be a centre for young people?

Cr Glenn Frendon said that Pathfinders was focusing on older men. “The last thing you want is for young girls to be wandering about in the old Royal Hotel with old men”, he said.

At the end of the debate, councillors agreed to move forward by setting up the youth committee and seeking its advice.

They did not agree on how the youth centre should be paid for or how the staffing would work.

This wasn’t the last debate on the subject.

In September, at the council meeting after next, the mayor’s position is up for selection. At the moment, Mayor Toms doesn’t have the numbers and Deputy Mayor Sparks looks like she does.