Councillors may spend £35,000 to go on line

Councillors may spend £35,000 to go on line

8 May 2013

DOWN councillors were last night due to decide if they should spend £35,000 streaming their meetings live over the internet.

The issue was due to be discussed by the Policy and Resources Committee last night after members of the Environment committee discussed live streaming last week.

The Environment Committee members were largely supportive of the web streaming idea, with some hoping it might improve the quality of the debate and add a more professional touch to what are often long, drawn-out meetings.

Councillor Carmel O’Boyle warned, however, that streaming council meetings in England had resulted in clips of councillors being posted on YouTube, and unfavourable front page newspaper articles.

The 60 hours of live transmissions per year through the Public-i webcasting system, already used by Belfast City Council and some local authorities in England, would involve administrative work beyond the capacity of current resources, according to a report prepared for council.

The report also notes an IT technician would be required to support the system for several hours a month over the first six months of its operation.

The report being considered last night indicated the webcasts would have to be “fully contextualised” and indexed for the public, with viewers able to access documents, presentations or data relevant to the meeting.

The webcast would also afford viewers the facility to respond to the council by way of feedback, questions, polls, surveys and consultations.

Projected costs for one year of council meeting streaming would almost £20,000, with a two year contract costing up to £34,345.

“Consideration should be given to the provision of appropriate training for elected members and officers on the protocols to be observed during live broadcasting and media interaction,” the report reads.