Council may go live with meetings

Council may go live with meetings

3 June 2015

RATEPAYERS could soon be able to watch Newry, Mourne and Down Council meetings in the comfort of their own home via the world wide web.

Local politicians are fully supportive of streaming their monthly and various committee meetings to allow people to see them at work at the heart of the new super council, but insist the drama inside the debating chamber won’t be available on a pay-per-view basis.

Ultimately, the cost of the scheme will be the deciding factor if it progresses. If meetings are streamed, television fans in the new council area will face a real dilemma on a Monday night. 

Do they tune in to watch the One Show or maybe Emmerdale, perhaps flick through their extensive Freeview or Sky programme listings to find something that catches their eye or switch on their computer, tablet or smartphone to settle down with a cup of tea in hand to watch their favourite councillors in action?The choice will be theirs, with politicians genuinely hoping people will use the opportunity to watch local democracy in action.

The former Newry and Mourne Council streamed some of its meetings and while the old Down Council considered a similar exercise, it was put off by the suggested £35,000 cost and the proposal was subsequently binned.

At Monday’s night’s meeting of the new Newry, Mourne and Down Council, there was across-the-board political support to stream monthly and committee meetings over the internet with officers asked to provide detailed costings before a final decision is made.

The proposal was jointly tabled by councillors Davy Hyland and Kevin McAteer and secured unanimous support. Councillor Hyland said streaming council business via the world wide web will allow ratepayers to see what local politicians are doing.

Mr Hyland said Monday night’s debate on increasing charges for children who receive private swimming lessons in council-owned pools in Downpatrick, Kilkeel and Newry has created major interest.

“Hearing and listening to what councillors have to say on this issue is of interest to people. If we are talking about democracy this is one of the best ways for local people to get to hear what their local councillors are saying,” he said. “I cannot see why streaming meetings would not go down well.”

Councillor Patrick Clarke said he “admired the spirit of the motion” and explained Down Council binned a proposal to stream its meetings because despite having high-tech equipment in the debating chamber now used by the new super council, there was no facility to stream it over the internet via hosting company.

“I am not against streaming council meetings and accept that we need to be as transparent as we possibly can, but experience has shown that other councils which have gone down this route have not secured many viewers. As far as this proposal is concerned, cost will be the deciding factor,” he added.

Councillor Stephen Burns said while some will argue streaming could be costly, Sinn Fein viewed the issue as one of “transparency.” He said the debating chamber has the technology to stream meetings and that what is required is a mechanism for hosting the broadcast via a website.

Councillor Billy Walker said he supported streaming meetings but would like to see the cost of the exercise, suggesting there may be merit in including the capability to do this via the new website the super council is planning to launch later this year.

He joked: “I believe the public should see what councillors are doing. They will be able to pick out the skivers and those who regularly attend the meetings.”

Councillor David Taylor also voiced support for streaming council meetings and said like many he wanted to see an “open and transparent council,” highlighting the need for politicians to be provided with full costings before a final decision is made.

Councillor Cadogan Enright backed the streaming proposal, suggesting it “might put some manners on politicians,” while councillor Gary Stokes said the proposal is about being transparent.

He added: “If we are really serious about transparency, then we should stream both our full monthly council sessions and committee meetings.”