Cannock Chase councillors vote against bid to broadcast and record meetings for residents who can't attend in person

Many councils across Staffordshire have been livestreaming or recording their public meetings for several years, including authorities in neighbouring Stafford Borough and South Staffordshire District.

Cannock Chase Council broadcast meetings via YouTube during the Covid pandemic, when there were national restrictions on public gatherings and remote sessions were required. But it no longer does so, although members of the public are permitted to record meetings – and several have been posted to social media in recent months.

Councillor Paul Jones, who became the district authority’s first Reform UK member last year, put forward a motion at a previous meeting calling on the council to record and broadcast its public meetings. The motion was referred to cabinet for consideration, before a final decision was made at Wednesday’s full council meeting (February 25).

Councillor Jones said: “Many residents cannot attend meetings in person due to work, caring responsibilities or health concerns. Broadcasting meetings is a minimum expectation of local government and it ensures every resident, regardless of circumstances, can see how decisions affecting their lives are made.

“The call for broadcasting is not speculative, it is supported by data. I’m not proposing anything radical – Lichfield District Council and South Staffordshire District Council already livestream meetings – and Cannock Chase District Council did so successfully during the pandemic.

“It could be a phased introduction, starting with full council and cabinet, reducing misinformation and increasing civic participation. These are outcomes any reasonable council should want; it’s good practice and it’s what our residents deserve.”

At the January 29 cabinet meeting, senior councillors recommended that recording or broadcasting of meetings should not be implemented at this time however. Minutes from the meeting stated: “The costs of procuring equipment suitable for the audio and video recording of public meetings, and the resource implications of managing recordings, would not be proportionate given the decision to look at relocating the Civic Centre and the uncertainty surrounding the impact of local government reorganisation.”

At Wednesday’s meeting, Labour members voted against the motion while Conservative and Green members abstained. Councillor Jacquie Prestwood, Resources and Transformation Portfolio Leader on the cabinet, said: “The reason it went to cabinet is because there were cost implications.

“It was going to be some £70,000 – £180,000 for this short term for this area. We’re going to local government reorganisation within two years time.

“It isn’t an efficient use of money – not taking into account we would need additional staff. People can view any of our meetings and all information there is provided on our website, or any of our councillors are available to answer questions.

“There is full transparency. I’m slightly disappointed you didn’t come to that (cabinet) meeting (on January 29).”

Conservative opposition group leader Olivia Lyons said: “I’m somewhat surprised to see this motion put forward – it’s strangely similar to the one put forward by the Conservative group on November 11 2020. In July 2021 costs were investigated and they ran into the many thousands – they were eye-watering and it couldn’t be justified.”

Council leader Steve Thornley said that misinformation had arisen online from council meetings, leading to abuse. But Green group leader Andrea Muckley said: “It is important we are open and transparent.

“The leader says as a result of recordings there is misinformation going round on Facebook – I’m not sure how that can happen. If there is a recording and if people are quoting from what was said in this chamber, it is right we are called up on this if we say things in the chamber.”