Opening access to local democracy
A year or two ago, I blogged a lot about getting local councils to transmit their meetings online, for voters to see what was going on. This was sparked by the event of @caebrwyn being arrested for filming at a council meeting at Carmarthenshire county hall.
I found it strange that a council would go to the trouble of calling the police on someone filming a meeting, which was open to the public. Surely the public should be allowed to see and hear what was being discussed and decided in their name at county hall.
As a result of this, I, and a few others went about making requests under the freedom of information act for information on what councils were doing to allow filming, and broadcasting in council meetings. As I recall, it was allowed at the discretion of the chairperson, although few councils bothered to broadcast their meetings online.
It was good to read this article today, and encouraging to see that more councils are now attempting to use the internet to open access to local democracy. This certainly makes democracy far more transparent, especially at the level that impacts on citizen’s every day lives. It would seem that £1.25m will be available to install broadcasting equipment at county halls.
It’s up to them
Local Authorities Minister
With Carmarthenshire County Council continuing to show the rest of Wales how to avoid scrutiny and stifle the democratic process, I received a response from my regional AM concerning filming at council meetings. Ok it wasn’t a response from my AM as such, rather it was a relaying of the Local Authorities Minister’s view. Here’s Carl Sargeant reply.
It would seem that the minister thinks that filming without prior consent shouldn’t be allowed; fair enough say you, however this is just licence for controlling chief executives, mayors and chairpersons to avoid transparency which suppresses local democracy. The minister also explains that he disagrees with filming people without their knowledge and permission, again fair enough; however, councillors are public representatives and are acting publicly in council meetings, so should be ready for people to film them while debating and voting on matters that will affect their constituents.
However, I contacted the AM regarding her view on the principle of filming should be allowed in council meetings. However, the principle isn’t expressly discussed in the reply, but the minister does outline that the Welsh Government does support councils’ engagement with the public. The minister has not, as of yet, set out guidelines for councils on this issue as shown in my recent FOI request, he does encourage councils to make the maximum effort in engaging the public in their proceedings. However without guidelines councils won’t do anything they don’t have to. This is all ambiguous stuff, with the minister relying on good will, and as we have seen, some councils are short of that.
It was good to see that the minister commends Carmarthenshire’s plans to webcast proceedings, and that it is an example to other councils. However a similar idea (Carmarthen TV) has been mooted for a while and as of yet is still to be seen. I suppose time will tell.
Carmarthenshire take their sweet time.
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.
Filming at Powys county council
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
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.
Plaid Cymru councillors to challenge filming rule
@caebrwyn @Plaid_Cymru in Wrecsam will seek to revoke Standing Order 44 which prohibits recording of council meetins without chair's consent—
Arfon Jones (@ArfonJ) June 21, 2011
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.
For and against filming council meetings
Here is a great graphic outlining arguments for and against filming at council meetings.
Rhondda Cynon Taff, says maybe if you ask
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.
FOI on blogging, tweeting, and filming at council meetings
Since the fiasco at Carmarthenshire council meeting last week, I have sent requests for information from 19 of Wales’ 22 local authorities concerning their policies on tweeting blogging and filming at their meetings. This has been done under the Freedom of information Act, and so they have 20 days to respond. The remaining 3 local authorities have been contacted by another person, so we should get a clear picture of the situation in Wales.
Get askin’ them questions!
After hearing the terrible way Carmarthenshire County council treated a Jacqui Thompson and seeing that a FOI request was sent to the council in question about their policies on blogging, tweeting, and filming at council meetings, I thought it would be great to see how each of Wales’ 22 councils treat these issues. So I have already put a request into my council, Powys. I urge you to do so with your council.
