SUMMER KIDZ: Boy, 15, is youngest ever to ask town hall question

Proud: schoolboy Nathan, 15 – seen with Mayor Cllr Greg Maskalick – becomes youngest resident ever to ask a public question at Long Eaton Town Hall council meeting (Credit: EBC)

A proud schoolboy was congratulated by Erewash’s Mayor at a full meeting of the borough council – for becoming the youngest resident ever to submit a public question.

Nathan Hayward, 15, wanted to know if the authority had any plans to introduce youth democracy schemes – and what the requirements might be to serve as a young person’s mayor or councillor.

He was not old enough to ask the question himself – so his father accompanied him to Long Eaton Town Hall to speak on his behalf. Dad Andrew explained as he stood to address councillors: “My son is very interested in politics.”

The packed meeting was being overseen by Mayor Cllr Greg Maskalick, who recently succeeded the country’s youngest ever civic leader. Greg asked his predecessor Cllr Harry Atkinson – who was 25 when he took the chain of office last year – to answer the question.

Harry explained to the Borrowash youngster that Erewash council is soon going to be abolished under a shake-up of local government – so such initiatives will be up to the new unitary authority that replaces it.

But he stressed that local representatives will “absolutely push for” young people to have more of a say. He pointed to how Erewash has already been working with schools, including inviting pupils to stage debates in the chambers of both Ilkeston and Long Eaton town halls.

New mayor Greg then summoned Nathan to step forward – and presented him with a special certificate and a souvenir pen set.

The full meeting turned into a marathon as debates continued late into the evening. The teenager grinned as one weary councillor turned to him and jokingly asked: “Are you still interested in politics?”

Topics included how a record sum of almost £2million is being poured into creating new playgrounds across the borough where a dozen tired existing ones have been earmarked to get brand new equipment. These include a new £400,000 showcase fun zone in Kirk Hallam – the design of which local people will be consulted about.

Motions that were passed included boosting business rates relief for traders in Long Eaton who have been impacted by construction work as the town centre gets a £10million revamp. The council and the Long Eaton Town Deal Board are continuing to stress that all shops and businesses remain open as usual.

An Ilkeston issue that cropped up was about a Nottingham Road roundabout called Gnome Island – where jolly garden figurines have mysteriously been appearing for a decade.

The authority made the name official in 2015 after a campaign by fun-loving locals. But since then the ornaments have repeatedly been vandalised or stolen.

The borough council was asked to recognise the “cultural significance” of the island near the Morrisons supermarket and to back a community fundraising scheme “for the creation of a permanent statue of Mr and Mrs Gnome”.

It agreed to do so but stressed that the final say lies with Derbyshire County Council – which as the local highways authority is the owner of the roundabout.