Broadcasting Of Council Meetings
14 February 2011 by Hamst
It was back in October 2004 that the first ever webcast of a meeting of North Lincolnshire Council was broadcast over the internet. People were invited to watch live as one of the most important debates was under discussion in the council chamber - the transfer of the entire 10,500 council housing stock to a housing association.
There were four options were to consider
� Stay as they were;
� Private Finance Initiative;
� Setting up an Arms Length Management Organisation;
� Transferring the stock to a housing association.
Pittwood House & Council Meeting Chamber
The meeting was held on Wednesday 20th October 2004 at 7pm, open to the public, broadcast over the internet and shown live on a large screen at Winterton Comprehensive School.
It was reported that six hundred and seventeen people tuned into to watch the debate live and over 240 people had also later visited the council�s website to find out what happened. It gave an insight to how the council operates, how decisions are made and the conduct of members in the chamber.
Cllr John Briggs, Cabinet Member for Housing at the time said:
"It is good to see the council using latest technology to broadcast the meeting. It worked well and proved successful with nearly 1,000 viewers.�
He added,
"This was probably the most important decision the council has ever had to make and it was only right and proper that we enabled as many people as possible to see it take place."
It�s now nearly seven years since that first live broadcast of a council meeting, with the advances in technology, easier access to the internet and faster broadband speed is it time we saw more council meetings being broadcast over the internet. Would this make the council more open, accountable and transparent whilst creating an understanding of local decision making?
And as for the outcome of that first ever webcast meeting?
The council agreed to transfer the entire council�s housing stock (10,500 properties) to a housing association, with a 12-month consultation taking place with tenants leading to a ballot.
Pittwood House & Council Meeting Chamber
The meeting was held on Wednesday 20th October 2004 at 7pm, open to the public, broadcast over the internet and shown live on a large screen at Winterton Comprehensive School.
It was reported that six hundred and seventeen people tuned into to watch the debate live and over 240 people had also later visited the council�s website to find out what happened. It gave an insight to how the council operates, how decisions are made and the conduct of members in the chamber.
Cllr John Briggs, Cabinet Member for Housing at the time said:
"It is good to see the council using latest technology to broadcast the meeting. It worked well and proved successful with nearly 1,000 viewers.�
He added,
"This was probably the most important decision the council has ever had to make and it was only right and proper that we enabled as many people as possible to see it take place."
It�s now nearly seven years since that first live broadcast of a council meeting, with the advances in technology, easier access to the internet and faster broadband speed is it time we saw more council meetings being broadcast over the internet. Would this make the council more open, accountable and transparent whilst creating an understanding of local decision making?
And as for the outcome of that first ever webcast meeting?
The council agreed to transfer the entire council�s housing stock (10,500 properties) to a housing association, with a 12-month consultation taking place with tenants leading to a ballot.
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