Keighley town councillors have quite rightly posed the question - just what is Bradford Council's Youth Services department doing help this area?
At a meeting, instead of listing what they are doing and what they should be doing all that two members of the services team could do was moan about declining resources and lack of staff.
All they and their colleagues can do, they say, is provide existing voluntary groups with advice and training - but not money.
The youth services department needs to step into the real world and stop crying the poor tale. Many things can be done without money.
For example they could take up the point raised by town councillor George Metcalf who stressed the importance of providing secure, permanent bases for groups such as Keighley Boxing club, which is facing an uncertain future. Other councillors pointed out the chronic lack of organised youth activities.
These are very basic issues which the man in the street would be justified in thinking was youth services job to sort out.
The town council has issued an invitation to the council's youth services providers and portfolio holder to take part in an open forum. An excellent idea, especially if the agenda includes realistic and achievable targets.
Let's not forget that for every teenager said to be running amok there's double that number who are members of groups and clubs and who know the meaning of good citizenship.
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