COUNCIL meetings in York are set to be broadcast on the internet from next summer – allowing the city’s taxpayers to keep an eye on their elected representatives at the click of a button.

City of York Council will next week look at ways of funding a system to stream coverage of its business online, either live or via a replay system, with the plan being to show six-and-a-half hours of webcasts every month.

Meetings of the full council and also crucial planning debates are being earmarked for screening as the authority looks to follow the successful example set by other councils such as those in Hull, Lancashire and Bristol.

The estimated cost of setting up the webcast system is £21,720, according to a report which will go before the council’s executive next week, with an additional £10,394 in revenue costs.

Councillors will now be asked to determine how the necessary cash will be found and to identify a contractor to implement the scheme, seen as a pivotal tool in showcasing York democracy in action, after a meeting of the full council in September decided to press ahead with the plans.

The report by Quentin Baker, the council’s head of civic, democratic and legal services, said: “A tendering exercise would need to be initiated in order to evaluate suitable solutions in the marketplace for introducing static, web-streaming technology into the council chamber.

“There are implications with regard to the necessary cabling when introducing a static system. Listed building consent may have to be sought if any structure changes have to be made to the chamber in order to lay cabling and install cameras.

“The scheme will increase the possibility of public involvement in the democratic process and improve equality. Members are currently aware that council meetings are not accessible for everyone, they often take place at irregular times and the venue of meetings is not always suitable for those with accessibility issues.”

Labour group leader David Scott said: “It’s a bright initiative which will bring the council back to York’s residents, allow them to participate in what it does and give them more of a chance to see what happens in the council chamber. It’s all about opening local government up and might also ensure councillors perform better and portray themselves better in the chamber when they know they are on a webcast.”

It has been suggested that, should York secure a giant TV-style screen in the city centre, council meetings could be screened on it, and Coun Scott said: “If the screen does happen, maybe it could be used for this on occasion. I’m not sure council meetings would have such a mass appeal and I’d prefer to see a screen used to show things like school plays, but the webcast scheme will give us more options and allow us to be more flexible in the future.”