Let's Webcast Council
 

Some council meetings in other councils are broadcast on their website, and can be played back after the event. Wouldn't it be great for transparency and openness if we could her things from the horses mouth without needing to attend every council meeting.

Re: Let's Webcast Council
 

Depends who the editor is ... LOL.

Re: Let's Webcast Council
 

I'm shocked, I didn't know you could be so cynical :eek::)

Re: Let's Webcast Council
 

I don't really see why not. Lancashire County Council I believe do something on these lines. I don't know what the costs would be, and it wouldn't be the most riveting two hours viewing, but why not.

Re: Let's Webcast Council
 

the best part of televised Council meetings are the public comment period at the start of the meetings, (before the Council is called to order) , where members of the public are allowed to ask questions/make comments (usually limited to 3 minutes per person) to members of the Council and 'Town clerk' in attendance . Sometimes the questions relate to matters on the pre-published aggenda, but other times it can be to bring a matter to the Councils notice especially if your local Councillors has no interest in it .

Re: Let's Webcast Council
 

View Council Meetings Online

theres the link for the lancashire county council meetings

Re: Let's Webcast Council
 

Unfortunately there is no slot at either Full council or Cabinet (of Hyndburn Borough Council) for the public to ask any questions. Some other local councils - Blackburn with Darwen and Pendle councils do allow members of the public to ask questions at Cabinet meetings.

Re: Let's Webcast Council
 

Gosh, can you imagine all the diva's in this Fly on the Wall situation ... LOL.

Would be better live though, eh ?

Re: Let's Webcast Council
 

Do the other Councils you mentioned have anything like our Area Councils where the public can ask questions?

Re: Let's Webcast Council
 

don't think it would be a bad thing, agree it would be boring in the main, but openess is always a good thing i think.:)

Re: Let's Webcast Council
 

After the mess they made of HyndburnLife, do you think it would ever work?

Re: Let's Webcast Council
 

NO, but the ideas "Pie in the Sky" anyway.:D

Re: Let's Webcast Council
 

I can't see it being a bad thing.

Transparency is good.

At least we'll know Cllr. Biggins is going to be photogenic to watch, because we've seen proof of that on his calendars.

Re: Let's Webcast Council
 

Rossendale call theirs Neighbourhood forums ... theres one for whitworth, bacup, rawtenstall, haslingden and edenfield and helmshore where people can attend and there is an agenda and they can either before the meeting speak to a councillor or theres an item on the agenda where the public can ask questions.

Re: Let's Webcast Council
 

Let's hope they dont introduce it before the summer of 2010.

Otherwise Andrew will be watching it 24/7, and will never graduate.

:D

Re: Let's Webcast Council
 

ah but at least he would see what really goes on.

Re: Let's Webcast Council
 

Good idea, you could use it as a cure from insomnia !!!!!!!!!!

Re: Let's Webcast Council
 

And there are a lot of Town and Parish Councils. Pendle, Rossendale, Ribble Valley and Burnley have a lot.

Re: Let's Webcast Council
 

I am not so sure you can ask questions. When we get around to it they have to be tabled and there's no follow up and it happens about 2 hours in.

Area Councils used to be able to receive questions at Full Council but because the constitution said the Area Council chair MUST answer the question in Full Council, Area Councils were ended in all but name. They are Area Forums now.

And sticking to the thread... YES they should be live on the internet. If enough people feel strongly about it, I will move a motion at Council for it to happen.

Re: Let's Webcast Council
 

Andrew has turned up to Council and our Area Council. He never said anything about them to be fair. I think most councillors set a good example of local politics in Hyndburn at those meetings. Don't know if Andrew shares that view but he has said little about his attendance?

Re: Let's Webcast Council
 

I think it would be an excellent idea to Webcast Council meetings.

Re: Let's Webcast Council
 

Seconded.

Re: Let's Webcast Council
 

thirded:)good idea

Re: Let's Webcast Council
 

Especially now Channel 5's dropping Trisha.:D

Re: Let's Webcast Council
 

You can always switch to Jeremy Kyle on ITV(unless you already watch it):rolleyes::p:eek::D

Re: Let's Webcast Council
 

Watch it?

I'm waiting to go on it, and find out who my goldfish's daddy is.

:D

Re: Let's Webcast Council
 

interesting to note the councillors on here seem happy to have this added, will be very interesting to see if proposed it sees the light of day, says cashys cynical side.;)

Re: Let's Webcast Council
 

Cashy, cynical, didn't know that was in your vocabulary mate:D:rolleyes:

Re: Let's Webcast Council
 

Don't know whether full council on line would be a good idea or not. In the old days of the Committee system, the committee's were very interesting as a spectator and full council was a bore to me, as it was just a rubber stamping job. However I haven't been to a meeting since the Cabinet system came in, whether full council is now more interesting I wouldn't know, but if anybody is interested in seeing how the council does work I can recommend a visit, maybe Planning still has some of the old values and its by far one of the most interesting parts of local legislation

Re: Let's Webcast Council
 

I wouldnt bother Jaysay ... i was used to the old committee system as well used to enjoy some of the rossendale council meetings i used to go to. Just before christmas i went to a council meeting ... in fact it was a planning one .. and to me theyre terrible not like the old committee style meetings i was used to ... and i aint relishing going to the next one im going to next thursday either.

Re: Let's Webcast Council
 

Has there been any progress from any of the parties on this? It's not like it's costly or hard to implement.

Re: Let's Webcast Council
 

Twitter / Stuart Pike: #HBC Clare Pritchard asks ...

"Clare Pritchard asks if meetings could be filmed on web cam."

The wonders of mobile internet technology for checking Accyweb in the council chamber, or just a massive coincidence? :D

Re: Let's Webcast Council
 

I had the pleasure of watching that question asked during Leader's Question Time from the public gallery as it was something I had brought up with Clare. At the mention of my name, Cllr Britcliffe gave an 'interesting' reaction so it's nice to know that my reputation preceded me.

The question wasn't actually answered in any definite way but if council meetings ever are webcast they will make gripping viewing. The cost would be ridiculously small so there really isn't a concrete excuse why not.

It was a jolly fun afternoon out, must do it again sometime.

Re: Let's Webcast Council
 

I think its a fantastic idea to film the meetings on a web cam, open and honest thats how all council meeting should be. Is someone going to start a petition?

Re: Let's Webcast Council
 

I`m not but i`d sign one...................:rolleyes:

Re: Let's Webcast Council
 

I'm not sure my aesthetic sensibilities could take the battering.

Perhaps I'll just tune in to the audio, and gaze at my H.B.C. calendar, whilst listening in.

Re: Let's Webcast Council
 

You've still got yours, then? Mine went in the recycling bag as soon as it graced my doorstep.

Total waste of taxpayers' money, particularly when the splendid recycling calendar is not only of much higher quality but more informative and runs for two years.

Re: Let's Webcast Council
 

If you've never been to the public gallery, I'd advise you to go next time there's a full council meeting. It's a real eye-opener.

I wonder if you'll be as staunchly true blue afterwards.

Re: Let's Webcast Council
 

I've been before. If I'd have been dressed I'd have gone today. It's a shame I didn't go and get to meet you.

What was the reply then? I think somebody who supports it should just take a webcam. :D

Re: Let's Webcast Council
 

Dont wonder that Ken! ya can't put sense where there is none.:D

Re: Let's Webcast Council
 

Still got them?

Of course. They're collector's items, especially the first edition, with twelve glorious, full colour pictures of Il Duce. Which I have kept in pristine condition, because it's been laminated, and is now easily wiped clean.

Though my own favourite is the one I thought was my 'Toby Jug Collectors Monthly', when it first landed on my mat.

Re: Let's Webcast Council
 

I happen to agree, and it's mentioned in this thread, which sadly grows longe and longer each year, with the arrival of the next installment of the calendar.


http://www.accringtonweb.com/forum/f...hly-18823.html

Re: Let's Webcast Council
 

call me cynical but whats teh point all that would happen is that once they knew they were on camera been watched all the things they dont want us to know or think we wont like will be discussed in teh corridoors out of camera shot before or after the meeting.

a bit like parliament if you will :rolleyes:

edit:

besides if they manage to blow thousands of our pounds on a website that never worked properly how much of our money do you think they would waste setting a poxy webcam up

Re: Let's Webcast Council
 

I've just been given a preliminary figure and it's more than I thought but in line with what every other council in the North West pays. There are much, much cheaper ways of recording council sessions and it's something I'm going to pursue.

The answer was along the lines of 'Maybe council meetings should be webcast so that the public can see the antics of the opposition' and then he sat down. Those are not Cllr Britcliffe's words verbatim but (and I'm open to correction) I don't recall a direct 'yes' or 'no' or even 'we can look into it'.

Most of yesterday's session revolved around cheap political jibes and I was surprised at the Council Leader's behaviour, to be honest. Even the presentation by Cllr Marlene Haworth on the refurbishment of Accrington Market Hall descended into petty political point-scoring. It was concise and well-presented, picture boards showed clearly what was being done and questions from the opposition were given straight answers but Cllr Britcliffe undermined the whole thing by summing up with an attack on the opposition.

He also brought up that Labour had allowed the tax office to close in Accrington while 'certain people were peeping on about private banks'. I will remember those ill-chosen words, particularly in view of the fact that he personally endorsed our little campaign to save the Rishton branch of HSBC by making an eleventh hour appearance on The Bee.

Re: Let's Webcast Council
 

If yesterday is anything to go by, it may calm proceedings down and focus the debates somewhat.

More public awareness is required and if people can get their facts straight from the horse's mouth rather than filtered through the media then they will be able to make more informed decisions come election times.

The reporters in Hyndburn seem to be respectable and respectful but there's still no substitute for hearing your councillors speak directly.

Re: Let's Webcast Council
 

Must say when I've been they've both been just as bad as each other. Is there wifi in the building? I know other councils all use some set system.. but it's quite easy to do it relatively cheaply if the council just do it themselves. You can use things like Qik | Record and share video live from your mobile phone, you'd just need a decent camera and a connection to the internet.

Edit: Err actually I dunno if Qik is just for mobiles, but there are plenty of free streaming sites like http://www.ustream.tv/ was my point.

Re: Let's Webcast Council
 

Perhaps now Graham is a PPC he has calmed down a bit. He hasn't called me a pillock in a while.. :D

Re: Let's Webcast Council
 

Perhaps he feels there's no need, and the informaton's eventually sunk in.

;)

Re: Let's Webcast Council
 

It will be interesting to see if the person who vilely labeled Graham Jone's newly born baby daughter 'the spawn of Satan', would be quite as vocal, if council meetings are broadcast live.

Perhaps someone as loathsome as that, would still be as viciously crass, but instead they'd just do it off cam.

Re: Let's Webcast Council
 

does anyone know the time and date of the next meeting open to the public?

Re: Let's Webcast Council
 

The next full council is not until the 18th May after the elections..

There might be area councils near you before then, have a look at http://www.hyndburnbc.gov.uk/site/sc...0&pageNumber=1

Re: Let's Webcast Council
 

That is not the date if The Tories lose power. There will need to be a fresh look at what an incoming Council would want to do.

Re: Let's Webcast Council
 

The meeting will be on the 18th of May then:D

Re: Let's Webcast Council
 

Don't tell anyone, but a large migratory bird, told me a certain authority has approached him with a similar idea, he might not take the job on because he hasn't got a technical mod' to look after such a section & he may have to refuse because of other work commitments.
:(

Re: Let's Webcast Council
 

Wouldn't that certain authority have in their employ media technologists, who already run their websites etc, and who could facilitate the broadcasts for the bird's forum?

:confused:

Re: Let's Webcast Council
 

Can only tell you what he told me, am seeing him later today, no doubt further details will be forthcoming, watch this space...

:)

Re: Let's Webcast Council
 

If Accy Web does become involved with the broadcasts from council chambers, even though I'm retired, I would be very willing to help the performers with styling tips, and advice on costumes, in order to achieve the most flattering coverage possible.

References can be supplied, as to the quality of my work, from American Presidents, various Royal Houses, and political heavyweights such as Mike Tyson and David Beckham.

:D

Re: Let's Webcast Council
 

All the posts about hyndburnlife have been moved to one of the more recent hyndburnlife threads. Please can we discuss that in the thread below and leave this thread for the webcast topic?

http://www.accringtonweb.com/forum/f...-it-51360.html

Re: Let's Webcast Council
 

Besides tuning in for the novelty value, the first time it happens, will anyone regularly tune in to watch?

Re: Let's Webcast Council
 

Possibly not at 1.00pm, it clashes with Doctors.

However, a more sensible slot of 6.00pm might get better viewing figures and a digital archive which could be accessed when convenient would be the best option.

Film recording is probably much easier and cheaper and since that's my line of work I'll do you all a special deal - £200 per session to film, edit to format and upload online.

How does that grab you?

Re: Let's Webcast Council
 

For £200 quid a pop, people would only think it was good value if it featured full frontal nudity.


:eek::D:eek::D:eek::D:eek:

Re: Let's Webcast Council
 

It's past 12pm! :D

Re: Let's Webcast Council
 

Two days work including overheads. Best I can do, guv.

That's a damn sight cheaper than the preliminary webcam quote, let me tell you!

Re: Let's Webcast Council
 

What's the quote?

I'd do it for free if I was home in Accrington more often. Once setup I'm sure if the councillors put their heads together they could press the on button. :D

Re: Let's Webcast Council
 

It's a difficult situation, because whoever quotes for this will automatically stick a few hundred on since it's for the council.

There must be a cheap way of doing it. Less, Neil, Mick??

Re: Let's Webcast Council
 

I take it you have not met many of our Councillors :rolleyes::D

Re: Let's Webcast Council
 

Let's just say it's enough to make you wonder if there's a cheaper way.

Re: Let's Webcast Council
 

Good quality webcam + laptop + wifi.

It's a council, I'm sure they have a load of spare computers/laptops hanging around. The place should have wifi by now? The main offices are only next door. The only real cost would be a one-off webcam purchase.

Re: Let's Webcast Council
 

If third world countries can arrange for the rest of the planet to watch their people jigging about, it really shouldn't be that difficult to make it happen.

Re: Let's Webcast Council
 

In principle, that's all you're looking at. With the way the council chamber is laid out you would ideally want three cameras and someone to work it all as 'vision mixer' plus a decent hard drive to record the live feed to but beyond that I don't know.

I'm sure there are experts out there who can tell us. I need to look into it.

Re: Let's Webcast Council
 

You could do that.. but I think it's perfectly acceptable to just have one camera showing the room. The main thing is the audio, rather than having the right angle to watch pinocchio's nose grow. ;)

Re: Let's Webcast Council
 

heres the twitter feed from stuart pike .. its on accy observers website ..

Hyndburn Council meeting - as it happened - Accrington Observer

stuartpike78: #HBC First dinner time regular full council meeting i can recall in Accy.
stuartpike78: #HBC Will it be a full house? Some councillors have day jobs

stuartpike78: #HBC 3 apologies for absence. 1 each for Con, Lab and Ind.

stuartpike78: #HBC Cllr Collingridge asks why meeting moved to 1pm at expense of the working man?

stuartpike78: #HBC Leader says meeting brought forward due to daughter's Performing Arts GCSE.

just a pick from the twitter feed ..

Re: Let's Webcast Council
 

well that was bad enough jen, who wants a ruddy webcam.:rolleyes:

Re: Let's Webcast Council
 

Two hours of pure gold, I certainly would.

Re: Let's Webcast Council
 

Will it just be available for residents over the age of 18, so any rude and offensive language won't offend young and delicate ears?

No action over leader's 'silly cow' jibe - Accrington Observer

Re: Let's Webcast Council
 

To each his own ken, would rather watch the traffic lights change meself.:D

Re: Let's Webcast Council
 

It'll be just like Big Brother.

Though evictions will happen every few years, rather than on each Friday.

'Day 14,678 in the Big Democracy House....'

Re: Let's Webcast Council
 

http://www.accringtonweb.com/forum/f...its-52552.html

I saw this and thought, "Gosh, thank's grannyClaret, 1st of April already?"
:D

Re: Let's Webcast Council
 

How's the plan going for this?

Would be interesting for the public to see democracy in action.

Who voted for what resolutions and such.

Re: Let's Webcast Council
 

I'm sure the Kashmiri's would have loved to have seen democracy in progress Rindi;)

Re: Let's Webcast Council
 

We're all in agreement then. When's the next Council meeting?

Re: Let's Webcast Council
 

Lights!

Camera!

Action!

Cue vote condemning violent atrocities carried out by Indians in Kashmir.

Re: Let's Webcast Council
 

Yeh funny cyfr aint mentioned that rindy,especially wi P.B. being proud to support it.:D

Re: Let's Webcast Council
 

But we'll switch the camera off when it comes to the vote:D

Re: Let's Webcast Council
 

Sod's bloody law.

The only council meeting I was invited to attend by two councillors.

They wouldn't have switched me off, if I'd been well enough to get there, when it came to the vote.

I'd have noted every single name, before lobbing my shoe sat 'em in protest.

Re: Let's Webcast Council
 

They might just have gone into camera Rindi when the vote was being taken, and you would have been asked to leave the chamber:rolleyes:

Re: Let's Webcast Council
 

So are yeh saying,if they choose,they can vote on our behalf n we can't witness it? that sounds very democratic.:rolleyes:

Re: Let's Webcast Council
 

In some cases yes cashy, whether they could do it on an issue like that I'm not sure, but in the days when I was keen and I attended council meetings there were items on the agenda which excluded the public, usually to do with financial matters, cover by pink sheets in the agenda

Re: Let's Webcast Council
 

Apparently costings were done by Hyndburn Borough Council, regarding live cam streaming, according to this. (Approx 1 minute in, on second part.)

Though it doesn't say what those costs were.

Interview with Councillor Ken Moss

Re: Let's Webcast Council
 

I think the cost answer is a red herring. The cost would be paying a member of staff a few hours overtime, plus the cost of a decent camera, which these days isn't expensive.

We aren't looking for something to be nominated in the category of best documentary at the Academy Awards. Just someone who can point the camera at whoever is speaking.

Fylde BC have been doing it for years. The only negative is that it makes the meetings look so mind-numbingly boring. And as the old saying goes, the camera cannot lie! Take it from one who knows!

;)

Re: Let's Webcast Council
 

Well at least I can agree with Cllr Moss on one thing council meetings are mind numbingly boring, that is for sure;)sitting in front of a computer screen watching a council meeting isn't ever going to hit the heights is it.

Re: Let's Webcast Council
 

I remember one Chief Officer (long since retired) who used to take the Committee through EVERY report word by word, even though they had received the reports days before. He would stop at the end of each sentence with words of explanation. His philosophy (which he never admitted to) was to grind everyone down to such a degree of boredom that they would agree anything at the end of it, just to get away.

The standing order that all meetings had to finish by 10pm was a godsend, otherwise they would have gone on until the wee small hours.

I now see my retirement pension as payback time for all those hours over many years spent in total, utter and complete boredom!

:(

Re: Let's Webcast Council
 

...and yet you were suprised that there were no members of the public at the recent overview and scrutiny committee meeting regarding budgets.

Re: Let's Webcast Council
 

Things have changed a bit since my day. In all the years I was there, we never had anything like the cuts that the Council has to impose this year, and the only thing to look forward to at budget time was how much George Slynn would find for his latest pet schemes.

Nowadays, there are wholesale redundancies and service cuts which SHOULD be of concern.

Re: Let's Webcast Council
 

I've little doubt that people ARE concerned about the cuts.

However, passively witnessing the overview and scrutiny committee mull over the various proposals put forward by the parties involved, might be seen as a rather passive waste of time.

Seeing as their presence will make not one iota of difference to proceedings.

Perhaps members of the public would prefer to use their time more usefully, whilst still having a keen interest in budget cuts, by gathering any relevant information from other sources.

Re: Let's Webcast Council
 

Besides, I'm not too sure if it was a morning, or evening meeting, but I believe some people in Hyndburn have to actually work for a living, at both those times.

Making it difficult to attend, as well as their attendance having no impact on the discussion.

Re: Let's Webcast Council
 

Are we all sure that this is such a good idea? Remember what happened to Hyndburn Lite and what that cost. We all know that whatever the council does ends up costing much more than they originally envisaged and more than somebody else can do the same job for.

Re: Let's Webcast Council
 

Plus...don't we run the risk of certain councillors turning into more of a prima-donna than they already are?

The reason that Prime Minister's Questions is such a pantomime now, is purely down to the presence of cameras.

Re: Let's Webcast Council
 

You mean like when Hyndburn B.C. were given £591,000,00, to set up a community website, to rival Accy Web?

Costly website a ?desperate failure? | Accrington Observer - menmedia.co.uk

I'm sure they could make another half million pounds in cuts, in order to have a stab, and fund this.

Re: Let's Webcast Council
 

To make sure it's a crowd puller they could bring in guest stars.

Who could then keep our own prima-donnas under control

The pixie who was inside R2-D2, Corrie's Martin Plat, that celebrity chef chap, Dildo something or other, the Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir.

Perhaps even a big Hollywood star!

Well we are now a big player of the world stage.

;)

http://t2.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:A...p2rB9E50sgHGeQ