Webcasting ought to be a straightforward decision; Osborne has made it otherwise
December 7, 2012 7 Comments
I have a confession: in my near three years as the Labour Parliamentary candidate for Castle Point I only attended a couple of council meetings there, and watched about ten minutes at most on webcast. Perhaps this explains my distant third place in 2010. Perhaps not. One has to make decisions about the best use of resources, and my time was one of the more precious.
I mention this because the suggested webcasting of Southend-on-Sea’s council meetings is a hot topic at the moment. It ought to be uncontentious, but the deep cuts to the council’s budget have made this a fraught decision.
Firstly, I think the idea of webcasting is a good one. My well-publicised objection is over the timing.
Ms Jack Monroe and Cllr James Courtenay, to name but two protagonists, are very much in the pro camp.
Money is the issue, and irrespective of the relatively small sum involved it will have to come from somewhere.
I suspect that the broadcasting of our meetings will have a very low audience except on those rare moments of real excitement. Only the obsessed will want to witness the somewhat turgid nature of our meetings.
To get a glimpse of what could be in store you could try the Castle Point Webcasting site.
As was the Leader of the Labour Group when the matter was before Economic and Environmental Scrutiny Committee for their view before cabinet made its decision (20th September 2012). It is always pleasing when the Labour Group agrees with the administation.
Indeed. It’s a shame only one member of the Conservative group backed the administration.
Be interesting to see how they vote after two months to non-whip them into line…
Julian,
Castle Point’s Webcasting site whilst possibly – in some measure at least – backing up your ‘turgid’ position, it seems to me that you do not take enough account of the public’s highly warranted right to be interested in the turgidity of their elected representatives at a time of important decision making and the agreement necessary, or no, concomitant to the decision-making process on our behalf.
Obsessiveness – which I personally would dispute in this instance if not
others – notwithstanding.
It’s a bit like James and Ian – above – sorting it out ‘out the back’ or ‘in the ring’ don’t you think?
And … Jeeez … I speak as one who’ll fight anyone just to be sociable.
That’s poetically licenced argument you understand … and the more readily available to view in local politics the better.
If webcasting was now put on the backburner for possibly many austere years it would be a real shame.
Julian,
I agree with you and the reason I voted against was purely for financial reasons. I was interested in the response from the Leader about that the £20,000 for the first year ‘would be found from resources’. I was put down by the same person when arguing against the reduction in spend in the Little Treasures Children Centre. I would habe loved this £20,000 per annum ‘from resources’ for those families!