FACILITIES for young people in Hambleton will be discussed at a council meeting next week.

Ways of expanding leisure facilities for young people and engaging them in community initiatives will be discussed by the district council's cultural and social overview and services committee.

After five months of consultation and discussion, the committee is expected to agree a list of recommendations relating to services for teenagers to be put to the council's cabinet.

Since October last year, members have spoken to large numbers of children from schools across Hambleton, as well as to youth workers, leisure staff and community education officials.

Committee chairman John Coulson said: "The committee found that the council's role in the provision for services for young people was quite limited - there were no leisure services provided exclusively for 13 to 19-year-olds.

"However, most young people were not aware of the services the council does provide or that the council has a website.

"Young people were generally only interested in something if it directly involved them, such as a skateboard park or drop-in centre."

Among the recommendations likely to go before the cabinet are plans to:

* Produce a youth friendly magazine publicising council services;

* Support the provision of a skateboard park in each market town and use the Hambleton Forum, in Northallerton, as a cinema;

* Open youth clubs in Bedale and Stokesley schools to operate during holiday periods;

* Use school playing fields outside school hours and further utilise school sports facilities during holiday periods.

The committee meets to discuss the recommendations on Monday.