Why Filming Council Meetings Must be Allowed
Posted by Laura Sandys, MP for South Thanet, at 12:45, Wed 6 November 2013:
Filming council meetings has been the subject of much debate in Thanet of late so it was particularly interesting to see the issue raised in Parliament this week with the Government putting forward legislation to give us all the right to report, tweet and film council meetings. It is hard to believe that up until 1960, local residents were not allowed into council meetings to see what their representatives –yes, the ones that they had elected- were saying and doing. It was in fact Margaret Thatcher who stood up and pushed forward legislation to ensure that people did at last have the opportunity to attend these meetings if they wished. The world today moves much faster than it did in the Sixties and technology has moved on a fair bit too! News is reported as it happens via social media and blogging sites 24/7 whilst video can be streamed live and accessed wherever you are. Unfortunately however many councils around the country have not moved with the times despite a request from the Secretary of State. This has left many people wondering just what councils have to hide. Accountability and transparency are the very staple ingredients of a democracy. Before being an MP I was Chair of an organisation called Open Democracy and a member of David Cameron’s Democracy Taskforce so openness really is my watchword. As an MP, when I stand up in the House of Commons to represent the people who elected me to serve them, I can be watched online and on television whilst my words are transcribed word for word. Anyone who watched Rupert Murdoch being hit with a pie in the face will know that Parliamentary Select Committees are recorded in just the same away. The changes that were up for debate in Parliament this week -and now available to watch online- will ensure that local government is made more open than ever. Of course watching parliamentary or council debates is not everyone’s cup of tea but openness really is invaluable to us all and absolutely fundamental to our democracy, both in Westminster and at Thanet District Council.
- 'Laura's View'. 'Isle of Thanet Gazette'. Friday 1st November 2013.
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Posted by John McConnell, 13:04, Wed 6 November 2013: (Is this post abusive?) #
I feel this is a very promising move: 1. The Council & Governement are allowed to intrude in our lives, therefore we should have same ability. As Laura states, they are elected and paid for by us. 2. Hopefully it will reduce the petty squabbling, and other disgraceful antics that have been reported on, by word of mouth mainly due to their being almost held "in camera". 3. Allow those of us who have raised an issue, with a councillor can decide if they have actually done so. 4. Why should TDC as others hide in secrecy when they attempt to use the snooping powers against those who elected and pay them??