Projections for webcasting meetings of Angus Council have come in at more than £80,000 for the next four years.
After Forfar Conservative councillor Braden Davy floated the idea of broadcasting debating chamber discussions, elected members at a full council meeting in Forfar’s Town and County Hall on Thursday afternoon will be asked whether they want to press on with more detailed investigation of the idea.
Council officers have studied audience figures from other authorities who already record their meetings – including Aberdeen where full council proceedings enjoy an average live audience of 227 people.
The authority has also examined how webcasting might be delivered and presented costings for two set-ups – a subscription-based system through a self-service set-up run by council staff, and a fully-managed arrangement with four fixed cameras in the chamber controlled by a tablet device.
First-year costs are between £23,000 and £26,000, rising to four-year totals of £72,000 or £82,000.
IT innovation manager Steve Leslie’s report states: “Members would need to be mindful of the implications of, and interpretation of, debate in the chamber creating a wider and broader debate in the community.
“This would likely result in more engagement with individuals and groups requiring feedback and response.
“Other councils appear to have been selective over which committee meetings are broadcast and archived and a decision would be required about how members would wish to handle this aspect.”
Mr Davy has said he hopes colleagues will be keen to investigate the idea further.
“The report outlines some clear benefits such as providing a more detailed record of discussions for members of the public beyond published minutes,” he said.
“It also makes it more accessible as there is difficulty for those who work being able to attend afternoon meetings, and those who may be disabled and find travelling difficult. Webcasting allows all to watch our proceedings when they see fit.
“In Aberdeen an average of 227 watch meetings lives, with more watching archived footage. Since being elected a councillor there has only ever been a handful of members of the public attending. This shows the huge increase in engagement this proposal can have.
“I hope to see unanimous support for this once again. Councillors shouldn’t hide behind four walls, but be open for scrutiny and debate.
“That’s why I will be asking for this to go to public consultation before the final report is brought back so we can see whether members of the public think this is a worthwhile exercise.”
