A ROW blew up today over the appointment of City Of York Council's first Young People's Champion.

Ruling Liberal Democrats have chosen the youngest councillor, Fulford member Keith Aspden, to be caretaker cheerleader for the city's young residents.

The 23-year-old will lead the process to find a permanent successor, who will listen to the views of young residents from early teens to the mid-twenties on key issues, like education, leisure, transport, housing and the environment, to the council's top brass. They will also work with schools and youth groups in an attempt to paint a more positive picture of young people in the media - and stir interest among apathetic youths.

Council leader Steve Galloway hailed a "ground-breaking decision" to give young residents a greater say.

But opposition members today claimed the young population had been snubbed.

Labour deputy leader Viv Kind said the recommendations of the Young People's Scrutiny Panel, which she sat on, had been ignored.

Coun Kind said: "The panel, which first came up with the idea of a champion, advised that young people should have a say in appointing the councillor who could speak up for them."

She said the role was to be non-political "so the chosen councillor could fully represent young people and not the views of their own political party".

Coun Kind accused the Liberal Democrats of "forcing through their choice" without inviting nominations.

The Liberal Democrats said Coun Aspden's appointment would be temporary until a full-time candidate is found in the autumn.

But Coun Kind said: "'It's ridiculous to suggest they had to rush this through without consultation or discussion.

"It would have been worth waiting a month or two, if it meant the appointment could be made properly and young people fully involved."

However, Coun Galloway dismissed objections as "trivial".

He said: "Labour have known about our proposal for several weeks and the title of the post was clarified to read acting Young People's Champion, making it clear the present post is a temporary one."

Coun Galloway said the post had been created to help test arrangements before the permanent champion was selected.

He said a working group, including opposition members, had been set up to draw up the guidelines which would allow young people to influence the permanent appointment.

Coun Galloway accused Labour of "breathtaking hypocrisy" over claims the job could be free from political bias, saying the council's older person's cheerleader, Labour councillor Ruth Potter, had made comments of a "partisan nature".

Coun Aspden, who will chair the new working group, said: "I am pleased the Liberal Democrats are now getting moving with the process. This is something we should have had years ago - it will give young people the opportunity to have a direct voice in the political process."

Updated: 10:25 Tuesday, May 24, 2005