Webcasting proposal put on hold

12.00.00am GMT Thu 22nd Nov 2007

Lib Dem proposals to bring Norfolk County Council into the 21st century blocked

Norfolk web users have for the time being been denied the opportunity to watch their elected representatives in action after it was agreed yesterday that video recordings of public meetings at Norfolk County Council should not be made available online.

The leader of the Lib Dem County Council group, Paul Morse, had asked for consideration to be given to webcasting key public meetings in an attempt to increase public understanding of the workings of local government and to give local people a chance to observe how local councillors are representing them from the comfort of their own home. Research undertaken by the Council had highlighted that this facility could help to ensure greater equality of access to council information, in particular for those who are visually impaired or who find it difficult to travel.

Conservative and Labour councillors who opposed the idea suggested that they did not feel that council meetings would make very stimulating viewing and argued that there was a risk that the local media would no longer attend meetings in person if they could access online records of events.

Responding to the decision, Cllr Morse said:

"Clearly I am disappointed that fellow councillors do not share my enthusiasm for this idea at present. I believe that local people would benefit by having information presented to them in a way that is relevant and user-friendly. Norfolk County Council is so good at doing this in so many areas of its business. But now I think it is time that the democratic functions of the Council, which are so key to the lives of local people, are also brought into the 21st century."