Council meetings may be put on the internet (From York Press)

Ryedale District Council meetings may be put on the internet

7:50am Tuesday 7th February 2012 in News By Mark Stead, Political Reporter

RESIDENTS could be given online access to council meetings through a move aimed at increasing “transparency”.

Ryedale District Council is looking at making audio recordings of discussions and debates available through its website and relaxing the rules on members of the public taping, filming and photographing meetings.

An audiovisual system, which is used for committee and full council meetings, was fitted during a refurbishment of the civic suite in the authority’s HQ at Ryedale House, Malton. Officers have now recommended introducing changes to council procedures and the way minutes are recorded and published.

The issue will be discussed at a meeting of its policy and resources committee this week.

A report by Louise Sandall, head of organisational development, said: “There is the potential to post audio-recordings on the website for access by councillors and members of the public.

“This would provide a significant benefit in allowing those people who are not able to attend a meeting to hear the full discussion on items of interest, as well as allowing those present to revisit a discussion after the event.

“People listening to recordings of meetings would be able to pick up the flavour of the debate and hear all the points made.

“Such recordings would be intended to help the public understand why decisions have been made, rather than continue a debate over their merits.”

The report said the new system would not cost the council anything and would “make better use of staffing and equipment resources”.

The procedural changes would also mean anybody wanting to film, record or photograph a meeting would not have to gain permission from a council officer first and minutes of meetings would be produced more quickly.

In 2008, City of York Council considered streaming meetings online, either live or through a replay system, and broadcasting six-and-a-half hours of webcasts every month.

It was also suggested that the footage could be shown on a giant TV screen in the centre of York.

However, this did not come to fruition, with its cost being estimated at £50,000.

Former council leader Steve Galloway said at the time he believed the idea was “bonkers” because of its expense.