A leading Exeter city councillor has spoken out against the alleged prevention of Devon Youth Parliament members observing an "informal" meeting regarding the future of its youth centres.
Members of Devon Youth Parliament claim they were prevented from observing a meeting on August 21, between county cabinet councillors, commissioners and senior managers.
They claim key decisions about the transfer of funding to other agencies who may be in line to take over the running of the council's 24 youth centres it resolved to close, were being discussed.
George Downs, 16, from Exmouth, a Youth Parliament member, said he understood the reason for excluding youth representatives was because the meeting was "informal" and therefore "off the record".
But Councillor Rob Hannaford, Labour ward member for Exwick and St Thomas and vice chair of the People's Scrutiny Committee which includes the Youth Service, said that the young people whose lives are affected by the council's decision should have a voice in the process.
Devon County Council is facing the huge challenge of saving £110m by 2017 because of cuts in grants from the Government.
As a result, it has proposed to commission other service providers to deliver some of its vital community services.
In February, ward member for Exmouth, Councillor Eileen Wragg said she was "ashamed" to be a member of the authority after dozens of young people were prevented from speaking on proposals ahead of the controversial budget meeting where members backed budget cut proposals which threatened the future of its 32 youth centres.
Following its decision in February to slash its youth services budget by £970,000, in June, the council resolved to close all but eight of its youth centres which would be area-based youth centre hubs.
Cllr Hannaford, added: "This move is a real concern as we have already previously seen that the members of the Devon Youth Parliament and other youth service users were denied a right to speak or question these far ranging and deep cuts at a recent full council meeting.
"These moves will slash the youth services budget by almost £1m and threaten the future of Devon's 34 youth centres so full involvement is essential.
"Opposition councillors thought that giving the young people effected by these changes a chance to voice their concerns face-to-face was the right way forward, and as a result voted to suspend standing order to let two nominated spokespeople to come forward , but this was out voted by the Tories.
"To help counter this, the Exeter members requested a special Exeter Board item to invite representative young people to come along and discuss the issues and options with senior officers and other key people.
"After all, it's only fair that the young people which these cuts and service reductions are going to affect, have a voice in the process and hopefully have some influence on the outcomes "The Labour group will be raising these issues to see what can be done to make sure that young peoples views and concerns are being taking into consideration and that perhaps a proper forum or working group can be set up specifically about these cuts that includes some young people from around the county."
