Category Archives: Politics

Coulson and his security clearance

Posted on by Aled Wyn
Reply

Is it credible that the director of communications for the Prime Minister didn’t have high security clearance?  This, to me, is incredible.  It was only a few months ago it was reported that Coulsin was a part of Cameron’s inner circle (reported here, here, and here).  This one comes from conservativehome blogs, “And whilst several “outsiders” such as Michael Gove, William Hague and Andy Coulson have penetrated David Cameron’s inner circle…”    If you have someone in your “inner circle” , as it were, it is implicit that you have trust in that person, and would wish them to be party to all vital information.  For a communications director not to have security clearance would make his job impossible.

Of course Mr Cameron could have deliberately made the decision not to seek high clearance for Mr. Coulson.  Why is this though?  Did Mr. Cameron know that the vetting process would dig up information that would seriously damage the Government?  Did the Prime Minister know about the hacking scandal prior to appointing Mr. Coulson and wanted to avoid it coming to the surface?

There are many questions left unanswered, which the Prime Minister must address openly.

Carmarthenshire take their sweet time.

Posted on by Aled Wyn
2

Well, it’s not a huge surprise that Carmarthenshire County Council has failed to comply with the Freedom of Information and provide information they hold on tweeting, filming and blogging at their meetings.  Remember this was the council that had @caebrwyn arrested for filming at their meeting.  I’m glad that an internal review to this delay is being held and *should* be responded t by the 9th of August!   Hmm… we’ll see.

By the way I will have a map of council’s attitudes to filming at meetings up and running over the next few weeks.

Me no speakie English

Posted on by Aled Wyn
2

It would seem that the Lib Dems have cut John Dixon adrift to concentrate on Aled Roberts (you know the disqualified AM).  It would seem that the Lib Dems are trying to be bastions of Welsh language rights by claiming that Aled Roberts was at a disadvantage because the rules he read, which was in Welsh was not correct and different to the rules written in English.  However when it came to filling in his consent to nomination, he filled in the english version of the form.

Now when I read an official form in Welsh I then go on to fill it in Welsh also.  Of course this doesn’t disprove Aled Roberts claim but it seems very inconsistent!  Here is a link to that form.  nomination form

Swansea, filming, photography and councillors’ privacy

Posted on by Aled Wyn
3

Tonight I received a reply from Swansea council regarding filming and photography at council meetings.  It would seem that a councillor has already fallen foul of their policy of taking photographs at meetings, where he was forced to remove photos he had taken down from his Facebook page.

This isn’t something unusual with our local authorities.  Neither is the standing order requiring permission form the chairperson to take photographs or film at council meetings.  However, after asking, and gaining permission to take photographsother Swansea councillors objected to this claiming that it would be an invasion of their PRIVACY!!!

Below is the relevant part from the minutes of the meeting where this was discussed (31/3/11)

201. PHOTOGRAPHY AT A COUNCIL MEETING

The Leader of the Main Opposition Political Group stated that Councillor R Speht had breached Council protocol and had taken photographs at a Council meeting and had published them onto his Facebook account. He asked Councillor R Speht to remove the images and to apologise for his actions.

Councillor R Speht stated that the images had now been removed and offered a full apology to Council for his actions. He also sought permission from the Chair of Council for him to be allowed to take photographs at this Council Meeting.

The Chair of Council allowed the request.

(Note: A large number of Councillors objected to this and stated that they wished to maintain their right to privacy and that no image taken by Councillor R Speht should be published without those Councillors in the picture giving their consent.)

Surely standing, and getting elected isn’t the best idea if you want to protect your own privacy!  These people claim public money in expenses and yet are quite content in blocking transparency in their meetings!

Filming at Powys county council

Posted on by Aled Wyn
Reply

Today another of my FOI came to fruition with Powys county council replying to my request about filming tweeting and blogging at their meetings.  It is quickly becoming clear that councils tend to only allow filming at meetings with permission from the chairperson.  However no council go on to clarify what the criteria chairpeople use to make the decision to allow filming or not.  Here’s what Powys has to say in their rules and procedures document,

“20.            RECORDING OF MEETINGS OF THE COUNCIL

No recording shall be made of the proceedings of meetings of the Council whether audio or visual and by whatever method except with the express authorisation of the meeting. If a person records the proceedings of any meeting (or causes such recording to be effected) without authorisation then the Chair will order their removal from the meeting room and shall not permit them to be admitted to a further meeting except on a written undertaking to desist from such recording  ”

The same applies to all committee meetings.

 

Anglesey Council and the right to film

Posted on by Aled Wyn
Reply

Yesterday I received a reply to my FOI request from Anglesey regarding their stance on filming, tweeting and blogging at their meetings (Link below).  To put it simply, Anglesey has no policy nor any standing orders regarding filming at council meetings.  However in an e-mail released under the request it is made clear that “Historically,it is unlikely that the recording of public meetings by the public would be tolerated.”  It does, however concede that media are allowed in to film beginning of meetings (councillors entering etc.)

It is, however, to note that the council are piloting audio recordings which will be put on their websites, post meeting. Why pilot audio and not film?  It is also worth noting that the arrest in Carmarthenshire of @caebrwyn has gained the attention of council officers in Anglesey at least.

FOI Anglesey

Plaid Cymru councillors to challenge filming rule

Posted on by Aled Wyn
Reply

I’m glad to hear that there are some movement out there on the issue of filming at council meetings.  It would seem that Plaid Cymru councillors in Wrexham will seek to scrap Standing Order 45 (page 4-18), which prohibits council meetings without the chair’s permission.

Here’s what the standing order says,

“45 *PHOTOGRAPHS AND RECORDING AT MEETINGS

Proceedings at meetings may not be photographed, videoed, sound recorded or transmitted in any way outside the meeting without prior permission of the Chair. Failure to comply with this Standing Order may invoke Standing Orders 14 and 15 relating to Disorderly Conduct and Disturbance by members of the public.”

This is something Rhondda Cynon Taff should consider doing also.

Rhondda Cynon Taff, says maybe if you ask

Posted on by Aled Wyn
Reply

After submitting nineteen FOI requests to Welsh councils, I have heard back form one.  Rhondda Cynon Taff have recently amended their constitution (20.1)  to include the following rule on filming and taking photographs at their council meetings:

“Proceedings at meetings may not be photographed, videoed, sound recorded or transmitted in anyway outside the meeting without prior permission of the Mayor. Failure to comply with this rule may invoke Rule 19.4 (Members to leave meeting) and 20.1 (Removal of members of the public).”

So what would happen to you under rule 20.1? Well the following…

“If a member of the public interrupts proceedings, the Mayor will warn the person concerned. If they continue to interrupt, the Mayor will order their removal from the meeting room.”

It is unclear how holding a phone (or any recording equipment) up in the public gallery could “interrupt proceedings”.  It is also unclear on what criteria the mayor will allow or disallow filming at council meetings.  I have replied to the council to clarify this point, and I am currently awaiting a reply.