FIX 4: Lib Dems propose £1m for young people

8.00.27am GMT Thu 26th Feb 2009

Liberal Democrats condemned the Conservative group at county hall for failing to back proposals to increase spending on youth by £1 million.

Aislinn Lee, Liberal Democrat Spokesperson on youth, said: 'It beggars belief that the county council still does not get it. Young people need to be given something to do. Our proposals would have provided a subsidy for young people to enable them to use district council leisure facilities or provide activities in areas where there are currently none..

'If we respect young people and give them something to do then they will not be tempted into harm's way. But the Tories are locked into an old-fashioned approach to youth provision which sees it as somehow an arm of the education department.'