THERE has been an interesting piece in the news on a blogger in Carmarthenshire who was arrested (but not subsequently charged) in 2011 for filming a meeting of the county council.

It is striking that City of York Council meetings are not web-cast when so many other local authorities do so. I recall that Hull City Council had web-casting back in 2008 (and probably before).

Web-casting, social media and blogging aid scrutiny and transparency of council meetings and decisions. As a relative newcomer to York, I googled the subject and was interested to note that in 2008, there was a City of York executive decision to arrange a demonstration for members to see how web-casting would operate in practice, although the trail seems to run cold after that. Why was it not implemented?

While cuts place additional emphasis on any item of spending, there is surely an argument that for that very reason web-casting is surely an imperative in the modern era to provide confidence in decision making.

As a side issue, I would be intrigued to know what the reaction would be if a member of the public was to film meetings in the future. Is it against the rules?

Richard Bridge, Holgate Road, York.