Councillors criticise plans for meetings to be filmed (From Echo)
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Southend councillors criticise plans for meetings to be filmed
8:00pm Thursday 4th October 2012 in News
COUNCILLORS have rubbished plans to film their meetings and broadcast them live across the internet to try to boost interest in local politics. Bosses at Southend Council have drawn up proposals to install cameras in the Civic Centre’s main chamber, allowing residents to watch proceedings from the comfort of their own homes. A video archive of major meetings could also be kept online, meaning web surfers could play them back whenever they wanted. But councillors from all parties claimed the service would too costly and unlikely to attract many viewers when they were asked for their opinions. Martin Terry, spokesman for Southend’s Independent group, said: “It is an extravangance too far. “We can’t justify it at the current time.” Tory councillor Mark Flewitt added: “There are dire viewing figures for the local authorities which have already gone down this path.” Live broadcasting of council meetings has become increasingly popular in recent years. After the first trials were held with local government events in the US, the idea spread across the Atlantic over the past decade. Dozens of authorities, including Belfast, Birmingham and several London boroughs, have now embraced the system. Viewing figures have ranged from as few as 30 to as many as 1,400, although bosses believe most people will choose to watch archived clips rather than an entire live broadcast. Castle Point Council, the only authority in south Essex to sign up to the idea, broadcast its first meeting in February 2008. Southend Council officers said the impending need to update the microphone system in the main chamber presented the ideal opportunity to introduce broadcasting. The cameras would be programmed to focus on whoever switched on their microphone to speak, allowing meetings to be broadcast with minimal effort and cost. Bosses estimate installing the system would cost £62,000, with maintenance and upgrades costing an extra £20,000 annually. A final decision on the cameras will be made in November.
Comments(16)
E -Type
says...
8:49pm Thu 4 Oct 12
HBroom wrote:Which is what happens to certain councillors which is why they dont what to be observed.
The perfect programme to watch in bed when you can't sleep, two minutes of this and you won't be able to keep your eyes open.
Nebs
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9:03pm Thu 4 Oct 12
heartbeat
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9:03pm Thu 4 Oct 12
Dozens of authorities deem their paymasters (i.e. those who elect them and pay their wages - us!) worthy of being able to watch what goes on at meetings online. Why should Southend be any different?
I am 100% for this and believe it will only fuel the belief that councillors have "something to hide" if it doesn't happen. It must happen - this is 2012 and the dirt cheap technology has been available for ages. There are no valid excuses.
I wish to make up my own mind for myself, and so do many of my acquaintances, whether or not I watch proceedings. I do NOT wish to have that choice decided for me on my behalf.
Sign of the times
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9:11pm Thu 4 Oct 12
I'm not a complete technophobe but I thought they were deliberately making it awkward for people to watch it.
I mean a simple 'click here to watch' would have been useful.
jayman
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10:26pm Thu 4 Oct 12
emcee
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10:26pm Thu 4 Oct 12
The only reason to oppose this plan is if you are frightened the general public will see what you do not want them to see.
We elect our councillors, it's about time we could see what we are getting for our votes.
E -Type
says...
10:54pm Thu 4 Oct 12
jayman wrote:Is that "cable" or 'scable'
a few webcams and a microphone, oh and a computer and some cable.... FFS how much do SBC think this sh1t actually costs.
Nebs
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11:03pm Thu 4 Oct 12
emcee wrote:You can already see what goes on at the meetings. There is a large public gallery and whenever I have gone to see a meeting there has always been plenty of empty seats.
This is far from a waste of money when you compare it to how much salary the council pay their Managers, how much they pay consultants and how much they pay their friends, the building contractors. I consider £62,000 startup and £20,000 anually is chicken feed when you consider that we could then actually see where our taxes are being spent, and why?
The only reason to oppose this plan is if you are frightened the general public will see what you do not want them to see.
We elect our councillors, it's about time we could see what we are getting for our votes.
emcee
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11:45pm Thu 4 Oct 12
Also, the fact you will be able to view archived videos of sittings makes things even more convenient.
heartbeat
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11:49pm Thu 4 Oct 12
Nebs wrote:Yes that is so, but realistically how easy (or not) is it for the majority of the local population to get there? Many people are either working/looking after children or other relatives, cooking family meals and so on. Many also don't drive, particularly elderly citizens, and it's not much fun getting buses to and from the Civic Centre in the evening and many disabled folk are obviously disadvantaged. Not cheap either for those who don't qualify for free bus passes. It would enable people with young children or disabilities to see where their taxes are going.
emcee wrote:You can already see what goes on at the meetings. There is a large public gallery and whenever I have gone to see a meeting there has always been plenty of empty seats.
This is far from a waste of money when you compare it to how much salary the council pay their Managers, how much they pay consultants and how much they pay their friends, the building contractors. I consider £62,000 startup and £20,000 anually is chicken feed when you consider that we could then actually see where our taxes are being spent, and why?
The only reason to oppose this plan is if you are frightened the general public will see what you do not want them to see.
We elect our councillors, it's about time we could see what we are getting for our votes.
Live coverage should be available on the internet as a great many more people would have access to see what is discussed and it would help people who pay their wages decide who they want to elect based on their performances, behaviour and speeches.
It would be far more convenient and a good thing for the same reason that having Wikipedia and other online sources of information is good for people - it empowers people.
Given the overwhelming and blatantly obvious reasons why live, unedited coverage SHOULD be available to the masses online, one can only wonder whether the objectors would prefer the plebs, sorry I mean public, not to be so empowered. As everyone knows, knowledge is power.
Brunning999
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5:49am Fri 5 Oct 12
Blind Haze
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9:14am Fri 5 Oct 12
Cockle
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3:21pm Fri 5 Oct 12
In the recent past there have been contentious meetings, thinking particularly of the likes of Priory Crescent, Southend Airport, etc. where it would have enabled the general public easy access to witness the meetings. Full public access to all meetings would be available 24/7.
At present, if you can't get along to a meeting, or the local press don't report it, you have to wait for the minutes to, eventually, be made available on the Council website to find out what went on.
As the Council Officers have said that the mic system needs replacing anyway then why not do it now?
Is the £62k for installation the total cost or over and above what a replacement for the existing system would cost?
Now, if the meeting was broadcast I could probably answer that question as I'm sure I would see one of our Councillors ask the same thing, or maybe show us their incompetence by not asking.......
Eric Whim
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4:47pm Fri 5 Oct 12
Rollocks
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5:57pm Fri 5 Oct 12
Bang tidy
HBroom says...
8:05pm Thu 4 Oct 12