The Democratic Services Manager presented a report which provided the committee with an update on arrangements for the webcasting of Council, Cabinet and Committee meetings and asked the Democratic Services Committee to provide their views on which meetings should be webcast.

He advised the Committee on the current webcasting arrangements set out in section 4.2 of the report.

The Democratic Services Manager advised Members that Officers would look at the feasibility during the next contract period for exploring alternative solutions for webcasting, namely through Skype and YouTube.  Officers from Democratic and the ICT Department had visited Monmouthsire Council to view their solutions for webcasting meetings.  He advised that this option was being considered as there could be a cost saving associated with it.

He provided the statistics of the webcasted meetings for 2018/19 which were listed below:

The Democratic Services Manager listed the following meetings that had been webcast for the year 2019/20 so far, which also included the breakdown of views:

The Democratic Services Manager advised the committee of the proposed meetings for webcasting until March 2020:

•           Development Control Committee – 5 December 2019

•           Cabinet – 17 December 2019

•           Corporate Overview & Scrutiny Committee TBC - (Budget)

He advised that October 2019 and November 2019 were intentionally left free as new HD cameras were scheduled to be installed early November to replace the current cameras that were in place in the Council Chamber.

A Member asked who decides what meetings are webcast.  The Democratic Services Manager explained that meetings are primarily chosen by the Democratic Services Team on the basis that the item or items on that meeting’s agenda are of possible interest to the public.

He explained that Members were always welcomed to put their views in to the Democratic Services Team on meetings they wish to be webcasted and these would be considered.

A Member stated that a change in the term used to describe webcasting may make it easier for members of the public to locate the link for recorded meetings on the website. She explained that ‘webcasting’ does not really explain what it is we do, or may not be understood to an older audience. She added that changing the name to ‘view a Council meeting’ or something similar may help the general public understand more easily. The Democratic Services Manager agreed to progress this issue.

RESOLVED: That the Democratic Services Committee:

1. Noted the update on arrangements for the webcasting of Council, Cabinet and Committee meetings as detailed in section 4 of the report.
2. Commented on the list of meetings that are proposed as detailed in section 4.4.4 of the report and provided its views on what future meetings should be webcast.

Requested that the Head of Democratic Services explore alternative solutions for the webcasting of meetings which are most cost effective and to make them more accessible to the public.