Proposed by Councillor Chris Blakeley

Seconded by Councillor Geoffrey Watt

Council,

(1)  Believes the widest possible number of people should be able to easily engage in democracy, whether as active participants or interested observers via the use of blogs, microblogs, Facebook and Twitter including video and audio recordings.

(2)  Believes the Administration has made a mistake in banning the public from being able to attend and film at meetings.

(3)  Notes that in order to protect the rights of members of the public, petitioners and others who are not elected members and may interact with the Council and its committees that notices are placed in meeting rooms notifying the public that the proceedings may be recorded. Council further asks that Chairs of committees also ensure members of the public are informed at the beginning of every meeting that proceedings may be recorded and broadcast.

(4)  Council therefore reaffirms its commitment made in previous years by the Conservative and Liberal Democrat administration and in the interests of openness and transparency to ensure that all members of the public who wish to record open meetings of the Council and its committees are encouraged to do so. 

(5)  Council asks the Head of Law, HR and Asset Management to make the necessary changes to the Council's constitution to incorporate the right of members of the public to record in either audio or video at all open meetings of the Council.

Amendment submitted in accordance with Standing Order 7(2)

Proposed by Councillor Bill Davies

Seconded by Councillor Moira McLaughlin

Delete everything and replace with the following:

(1)  Council notes that the Administration has not banned the public from being able to attend and film at meetings.

(2)  The issue of filming is under review. The Acting Director of Law, Human Resources & Asset Management has been asked to look at how a balance can be struck between maintaining openness and transparency and addressing concerns among some members about what safeguards can be put in place on how video recordings might be used.

(3)  Council notes that the wider issue of the Council streaming its committee meetings is being considered by the cross-party members Equipment Steering Group.

(4)  Council asks for the outcome of the review to be presented to the Licensing, Health and Safety and General Purposes Committee for detailed consideration.

Having applied the guillotine in accordance with Standing Order 7(8) the Council did not debate this matter.

The amendment was put and carried (35:26) (One abstention).

The substantive motion was put and carried (42:19) (One abstention).

Resolved (42:19) (One abstention) –

(1)  Council notes that the Administration has not banned the public from being able to attend and film at meetings.

(2)  The issue of filming is under review. The Acting Director of Law, Human Resources & Asset Management has been asked to look at how a balance can be struck between maintaining openness and transparency and addressing concerns among some members about what safeguards can be put in place on how video recordings might be used.

(3)  Council notes that the wider issue of the Council streaming its committee meetings is being considered by the cross-party members Equipment Steering Group.

(4)  Council asks for the outcome of the review to be presented to the Licensing, Health and Safety and General Purposes Committee for detailed consideration.