Cornwall Council is looking to ensure that children and young people have more of a say in services that affect them, writes Richard Whitehouse, local democracy reporter.

The council has drawn up new youth engagement guidance which it hopes will get young people more involved in work at County Hall.

A report on the guidance is set to go to the council’s children and families overview and scrutiny committee.

It states: ‘Children and young people tell us that they want us to listen to them. They want to be more involved in decisions about their lives and about the help they receive.’

Cornwall Council says it is expecting to see a rise in the number of under-25s in the county over the coming years.

Statistics for 2015 showed there were 148,976 under-25s in Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly but this is expected to rise by 20,500 by 2030.

By creating youth engagement guidance the council hopes to be able to involve more under-25s which it says are the hardest audience to reach.

Under its plans the council wants to ensure that children and young people are able to have a say as individuals and as groups.

There are already a number of organisations that children and young people are involved in which help to influence council decisions in Cornwall.

The council is also looking at ways of using social media to engage young people in discussions about issues and services.

The children and families overview and scrutiny committee is due to meet on Wednesday, March 6.