Webcasting of Council Meetings Are A Window On The Decision Making Process
Cllr Kevin Foster, Leader of Coventry Conservatives, has today (Thursday 1st September 2011) called on the City Council to continue the webcasting of Full Council Meetings following a 1 year pilot, and to put similar arrangements in place for other key meetings of the Council.
The results of an evaluation of the pilot are due to be considered by the Leader of the Council with three options being considered. The options range from end the webcasts completely, to extending the facility to other meetings such as the Planning Committee.
Kevin believes that the live webcasting, along with an online archive, allows the public a window on the decision making process and an opportunity to hear first-hand what their Councillor has said when key issues are debated.
He said: “The webcasting of Full Council meetings has helped make transparent a process that in the past has only been seen by the few residents who are able to take time out of the working day to sit in the public gallery at the Council House. Coventrians can now see the debates that take place on key issues for themselves and respond in real time via social media networks to points made by Councillors.
“The archive feature on the Council website means that even if a resident is not able to follow the debate live, they can still see what their Councillor contributed and what decision was taken. I believe the next step is for a similar approach to be adopted in other meetings of the Council where key decisions are being taken, in particular the Planning Committee. Webcasting gives the public a window on decision making, one that should not be closed.”