I am disappointed at the lack of forward vision and openness the Lib-Dem council exhibits.

One example of this is the recent decision over showing council meetings on the internet (Webcast plan axed, The Press, January 27).

When first elected to the council, I found it amazing that there is no recording of what is said at meetings, only decisions. There is no recording, no transcript. I asked if I could record the meetings and I was told this was not a good idea, as the press may want to record the meetings.

I wondered what the problem was with this. As councillors we are paid, elected officials. The residents are our employers. If a resident wants to know what a councillor has said on their behalf they should have the right to find out and they should not have to take time off work to attend a meeting or come down to Guildhall in the pouring rain to do it. This is the 21st century.

This is why I seconded the motion in favour of this system. I have my own YouTube channel. To date this channel has had 660,619 viewers. And guess what? It doesn’t cost a penny.

I have read the council report into the costs of the system, and why it says the costs would be so staggering is beyond me, as I already can do this for free. All that is needed includes a couple of cheap camcorders and a free YouTube channel, just like other councils around the country have done.

I didn’t think there would be many viewers to the system, but I think taxpayers should have an easy, accessible right to see how the Lib-Dem administration squanders their money and messes up schemes like the Barbican.

Coun James Alexander, Labour councillor for Holgate ward, Holgate Road, York.