DORSET’S youngest mayor will give another generation the chance to get involved with local politics through a new initiative.

Councillor Simon Gibson, 24, of Verwood, may be coming to the end of his year in office, but hopes to leave a lasting legacy for children in local primary schools with the pilot scheme.

The mayor hopes to launch an initiative for children in the upper years of the parish’s four first schools, who could be invited to have their say over how £1,000 of the public’s money is spent at a special meeting.

Cllr Gibson said: “This really is in its infancy, but we are very excited about where it might go.

“The plan is to have a council meeting where we invite those in the final years of our first schools to come up with ideas about where the money should be spent before holding a meeting, chaired by the mayor, to hear their plans. “Then we would have a chance to spend the money on what they have chosen, rather than simply on their behalf.”

Cllr Gibson, who represents Stephen’s Castle ward, joined the town council in May 2007, when he was just 18, to gain experience for his political studies.

He was elected on to East Dorset District Council in 2011, where he sits on the community and ethical governance committees.

“It should be really interesting,” he said.

“I’m not sure if anything exactly like this has been done before. Children often have much better ideas then they are given credit for.”

If the meeting is held, the council will veto any suggestions that are deemed to be unsuitable.

Cllr Gibson, who will meet with staff at the schools to see if there is an interest in the initiative, said: “It’s about taking personal pride in your community – if you can get people involved in that at a young age, it can only help for the future.”

Cllr Peter Richardson will become the mayor of the town on May 20.