Welcome to Newburytoday.co.uk’s message boards where you can have your say and share your views on any number of issues.
Anyone can read messages, but only registered users can post messages, reply to messages or create new topics. As part of the free and simple registration, you will be asked to read and conform to the house rules.
To register, click here ……Enjoy the debate. Newbury Today Forum > Categories > Random Rants
Photography and Filming in Council Meetings, The Local Audit and Accountability Bill |
|
|
|
Jan 28 2014, 01:58 PM
|
Advanced Member
Group: Members
Posts: 6,326
Joined: 20-July 10
From: Wash Common
Member No.: 1,011
|
The Local Audit and Accountability Bill is currently going through the final ping-pong stage which looks likely to create a right to film council meetings. At present if you want to film or take a photo at a council meeting there is a significant risk that an uppity clerk could call the police and have you arrested. You'd not be doing anything illegal and the police don't actually have any power of arrest if all you're doing is quietly filming or snapping the proceedings, but it's happened that people have been carted off to the cells in handcuffs for just that, only to be released without charge. Utterly appalling in what is supposed to be a free society. You already have a right under the Public Bodies (Admission to Meetings) Act 1960 to attend meetings of the full parish council and its committees, though that right doesn't extend to sub-committees, but it's helpful here to understand what a committee and sub-committee is - a committee is a meeting which has its power to make decisions delegated directly by the council, and a sub-committee is a meeting which has its power to make decisions delegated by a committee. So for our own town council its committees are the Policy & Resources Committee; Community Services Committee, Civic Pride, Arts & Leisure Committee, and the Planning & Highways Committee, but also the confisingly-named Urgency Sub-Committee which is technically a committee. You don't currently have a right to attend a Grants Sub-Committee or a Staff Sub-Committee. So you shouldn't actually need a right to take a photo or video of a councillor or officer in a council meeting because it's not disruptive and the only power the council has is to evict you from the meeting if you're being disruptive, but in practice councillors and officers can be very unhappy indeed about their business being exposed to public scrutiny and criticism - but that's the cornerstone of a free society and it's very important to assert that right. I think you might be surprised at some of the harridan harpies and knuckle-dragging halfwits that people local government. Voting for someone on the strength of their party affiliation alone does not create good local government and exposing the arrogance, vanity, self-serving, and good old-fashioned ignorance, fear and prejudice that exists in local councils should do wonders for accountability.
--------------------
Right an injustice - give Simon Kirby his allotment back!
|
|
|
|
|
|
Replies
|
Feb 9 2014, 05:45 PM
|
Advanced Member
Group: Members
Posts: 390
Joined: 26-August 09
From: Newbury
Member No.: 303
|
Dear Forum Members,
Why not just come along to the odd (and they certainly are) meeting or two, get involved in any Working Groups that are established and become involved.
As stated before there is not only support for the public recording such meetings, but the Leader of the Council, Cllr Julian Swift-Hook is positively enthusiastic about the benefits of steaming meetings.
I personally welcome this process as it will hopefully reduce the all too common 'verbose' responses to a public audience of '0' that happens far too frequently. If Officers and Members were aware that everything they said and did in the Chamber was subject of public scrutiny then I suspect that I would get home a lot earlier than I currently do.
As for using our equipment, not sure I said this as NTC's equipment will be used transmitting to the world and beyond. Gosh my relatives in distant lands could watch and listen to Newbury Town Council at work, but I am not so sure that they will find the experience riveting, but it will increase the publics opportunity to scrutinise their council and decide whether their Councillors actually represent the interests of their Wards appropriately or as some in the Forum posit merely act as mouth pieces for their 'Masters at the District Council, or Party HQ.
Seriously though, if this increases openness and transparency it has to be good?
Ruwan Uduwerage-Perera Newbury Town Council - Councillor for Victoria Ward & Deputy Leader
|
|
|
|
|
Feb 9 2014, 06:22 PM
|
Advanced Member
Group: Members
Posts: 2,452
Joined: 31-October 10
Member No.: 1,212
|
QUOTE (Ruwan Uduwerage-Perera @ Feb 9 2014, 05:45 PM) Dear Forum Members,
Why not just come along to the odd (and they certainly are) meeting or two, get involved in any Working Groups that are established and become involved.
As stated before there is not only support for the public recording such meetings, but the Leader of the Council, Cllr Julian Swift-Hook is positively enthusiastic about the benefits of steaming meetings.
I personally welcome this process as it will hopefully reduce the all too common 'verbose' responses to a public audience of '0' that happens far too frequently. If Officers and Members were aware that everything they said and did in the Chamber was subject of public scrutiny then I suspect that I would get home a lot earlier than I currently do.
As for using our equipment, not sure I said this as NTC's equipment will be used transmitting to the world and beyond. Gosh my relatives in distant lands could watch and listen to Newbury Town Council at work, but I am not so sure that they will find the experience riveting, but it will increase the publics opportunity to scrutinise their council and decide whether their Councillors actually represent the interests of their Wards appropriately or as some in the Forum posit merely act as mouth pieces for their 'Masters at the District Council, or Party HQ.
Seriously though, if this increases openness and transparency it has to be good?
Ruwan Uduwerage-Perera Newbury Town Council - Councillor for Victoria Ward & Deputy Leader Ruwan A very many people have strong opinions but when it comes to standing up at public meetings and asking questions this for them is a game stopper. You mention council equipment and new media? You yourself are debating on a local forum just what is wrong with the council entering into this debate and answering the questions posted exactly the same as you are participating in now? After all it is only just another medium for engaging with the public is it not? Why should the public have to travel to the town hall after all you have probably reached more of the public on this forum than you ever will via other means that the council uses at the moment, I don't mind being corrected if this is incorrect, so why not suggest the other Councillors get together and request forum members post any questions they have and get them to debate them on this forum? I fail to see the difference in me traveling to the town hall or sitting at my computer and submitting the questions. At least I won't waste a lot of my time at the town hall and being informed that they are unable to enter into discussions on that subject which has occurred more times than I care to remember. I therefore challenged the council to move with the times and engage with the public via the modern method of the digital aid instead of in a stuffy town hall.
--------------------
Vexatious Candidate?
|
|
|
|
|
Feb 9 2014, 07:19 PM
|
Advanced Member
Group: Members
Posts: 390
Joined: 26-August 09
From: Newbury
Member No.: 303
|
QUOTE (Cognosco @ Feb 9 2014, 06:22 PM) I therefore challenged the council to move with the times and engage with the public via the modern method of the digital aid instead of in a stuffy town hall. I fully support the sentiments, but we live in a society that rightly requires evidence and someone to take responsibility for their words and deeds, and although I am willing to participate in the Forum, the questions posed can only inform my actions, not dictate them for they are generally made by 'faceless' people who do not corroborate what they have said with evidence. As with any official body, for the Council to take action it requires the applicant to at least send in a formal letter of concern/complaint. This may appear bureaucratic but to someone such as myself who has been involved in the criminal justice system for all of my adult life, it seems eminently sensible. As for travelling to the Town Hall, we are talking about the residents of Newbury are we not? Newbury is not exactly huge, and the Town Hall is in the centre. Now if you had said that it was disproportionately expensive to park ones car in order to get to the Town Hall, I would agree as I seem to pay a vast amount weekly merely to attend or undertake Council business. Of course an alternative method would be for Public and Forum members to make official complaints directly to Ward Councillors, but even then, for the complaint to be processed it would have to come from a named person, unless of course it was of a criminal nature, then really people should go straight to the police. You have though posed a rather good question about posing questions in the post-Streaming period about whether someone need to be physically present in the Chamber to ask a supplementary question to one presented either orally or by way of a letter/email? I will seek further guidance on this one. Ruwan Uduwerage-Perera Newbury Town Council - Councillor for Victoria Ward & Deputy Leader
|
|
|
|
|
Feb 9 2014, 08:07 PM
|
Advanced Member
Group: Members
Posts: 2,452
Joined: 31-October 10
Member No.: 1,212
|
QUOTE (Ruwan Uduwerage-Perera @ Feb 9 2014, 07:19 PM) I fully support the sentiments, but we live in a society that rightly requires evidence and someone to take responsibility for their words and deeds, and although I am willing to participate in the Forum, the questions posed can only inform my actions, not dictate them for they are generally made by 'faceless' people who do not corroborate what they have said with evidence.
As with any official body, for the Council to take action it requires the applicant to at least send in a formal letter of concern/complaint. This may appear bureaucratic but to someone such as myself who has been involved in the criminal justice system for all of my adult life, it seems eminently sensible.
As for travelling to the Town Hall, we are talking about the residents of Newbury are we not? Newbury is not exactly huge, and the Town Hall is in the centre. Now if you had said that it was disproportionately expensive to park ones car in order to get to the Town Hall, I would agree as I seem to pay a vast amount weekly merely to attend or undertake Council business.
Of course an alternative method would be for Public and Forum members to make official complaints directly to Ward Councillors, but even then, for the complaint to be processed it would have to come from a named person, unless of course it was of a criminal nature, then really people should go straight to the police.
You have though posed a rather good question about posing questions in the post-Streaming period about whether someone need to be physically present in the Chamber to ask a supplementary question to one presented either orally or by way of a letter/email? I will seek further guidance on this one.
Ruwan Uduwerage-Perera Newbury Town Council - Councillor for Victoria Ward & Deputy Leader Ruwan For some people to get to the town hall may be very much harder than you may imagine. Disabled, wheelchair, medical equipment, to move out of the house can be a major logistical planning problem for some. Therefore parking problems sinks into insignificance to some. I repeat there is the problem of being victimised by the existing council and I sincerely believe that is why not very many attend the town hall meetings. I repeat I really appreciate that you are participating but as in the past it does not in fact produce any results that moves anything forward. I fail to see the difference in talking face to face in a workshop or whatever or than as we are doing at present on this forum. The only noticeable difference is that I have debated longer with you but the outcome would seem to be the same. We are in the same positions as when we started. So my experience with the town council is the same as it always has been a wasted time I'm afraid.
--------------------
Vexatious Candidate?
|
|
|
|
Posts in this topic
Simon Kirby Photography and Filming in Council Meetings Jan 28 2014, 01:58 PM Simon Kirby And having been unkind to UKIP the other day, I th... Jan 28 2014, 02:12 PM Dodgys smarter brother. QUOTE (Simon Kirby @ Jan 28 2014, 03:12 P... Jan 28 2014, 03:57 PM Strafin I really enjoyed reading that! Jan 28 2014, 07:36 PM On the edge Loved the film, you can see how the 'chain of ... Jan 28 2014, 10:23 PM Simon Kirby QUOTE (On the edge @ Jan 28 2014, 10:23 P... Jan 29 2014, 04:52 PM Cognosco Well the Carry On films proved popular so perhaps ... Jan 29 2014, 04:28 PM Simon Kirby QUOTE (Cognosco @ Jan 29 2014, 04:28 PM) ... Jan 29 2014, 04:46 PM Strafin To be fair though, if womeone turned up at your wo... Jan 29 2014, 06:51 PM Simon Kirby QUOTE (Strafin @ Jan 29 2014, 06:51 PM) T... Jan 29 2014, 07:43 PM Biker1 QUOTE (Strafin @ Jan 29 2014, 08:51 PM) T... Jan 30 2014, 09:06 AM Exhausted QUOTE (Biker1 @ Jan 30 2014, 09:06 AM) It... Jan 30 2014, 09:38 PM Exhausted Pressed the wrong button. Jan 30 2014, 09:40 PM MontyPython QUOTE (Exhausted @ Jan 30 2014, 09:38 PM)... Jan 30 2014, 10:17 PM Simon Kirby QUOTE (MontyPython @ Jan 30 2014, 10:17 P... Jan 30 2014, 10:51 PM MontyPython QUOTE (Simon Kirby @ Jan 30 2014, 10:51 P... Jan 30 2014, 11:07 PM Simon Kirby QUOTE (Exhausted @ Jan 30 2014, 09:38 PM)... Jan 30 2014, 10:49 PM dannyboy QUOTE (Biker1 @ Jan 30 2014, 09:06 AM) It... Jan 31 2014, 11:04 AM Biker1 QUOTE (dannyboy @ Jan 31 2014, 01:04 PM) ... Feb 1 2014, 10:03 AM Lolly This issue has been rumbling on for a while and yo... Jan 29 2014, 08:01 PM Lolly Answered my own question re West Berkshire Council... Jan 29 2014, 08:15 PM Cognosco QUOTE (Lolly @ Jan 29 2014, 08:15 PM) Ans... Jan 29 2014, 09:12 PM Simon Kirby QUOTE (Lolly @ Jan 29 2014, 08:15 PM) Ans... Jan 29 2014, 09:49 PM Ruwan Uduwerage-Perera Dear Forum Readers,
I can assure you that the Lea... Jan 31 2014, 11:54 AM motormad When and where? Jan 31 2014, 12:10 PM Jay Sands QUOTE (motormad @ Jan 31 2014, 12:10 PM) ... Jan 31 2014, 12:30 PM Simon Kirby QUOTE (Jay Sands @ Jan 31 2014, 12:30 PM)... Jan 31 2014, 07:07 PM Jay Sands QUOTE (Simon Kirby @ Jan 31 2014, 07:07 P... Feb 1 2014, 09:53 AM blackdog QUOTE (Jay Sands @ Feb 1 2014, 09:53 AM) ... Feb 1 2014, 10:53 AM On the edge QUOTE (blackdog @ Feb 1 2014, 10:53 AM) I... Feb 1 2014, 01:06 PM Simon Kirby QUOTE (Jay Sands @ Feb 1 2014, 09:53 AM) ... Feb 1 2014, 08:13 PM Cognosco QUOTE (Simon Kirby @ Feb 1 2014, 08:13 PM... Feb 1 2014, 08:45 PM Simon Kirby QUOTE (Cognosco @ Feb 1 2014, 08:45 PM) O... Feb 1 2014, 08:52 PM Cognosco QUOTE (Simon Kirby @ Feb 1 2014, 08:52 PM... Feb 1 2014, 09:22 PM On the edge QUOTE (Simon Kirby @ Feb 1 2014, 08:13 PM... Feb 1 2014, 10:55 PM MontyPython QUOTE (Cognosco @ Feb 1 2014, 09:22 PM) W... Feb 2 2014, 11:43 AM Exhausted QUOTE (MontyPython @ Feb 2 2014, 11:43 AM... Feb 2 2014, 01:43 PM Jay Sands QUOTE (Simon Kirby @ Feb 1 2014, 08:13 PM... Feb 2 2014, 08:39 AM Cognosco QUOTE (Jay Sands @ Feb 2 2014, 08:39 AM) ... Feb 2 2014, 10:59 AM Simon Kirby QUOTE (Jay Sands @ Feb 2 2014, 08:39 AM) ... Feb 2 2014, 06:52 PM Ruwan Uduwerage-Perera QUOTE (Simon Kirby @ Feb 2 2014, 06:52 PM... Feb 8 2014, 01:22 PM On the edge QUOTE (Ruwan Uduwerage-Perera @ Feb 8 20... Feb 8 2014, 01:42 PM Ruwan Uduwerage-Perera QUOTE (On the edge @ Feb 8 2014, 01:42 PM... Feb 8 2014, 02:18 PM Cognosco QUOTE (Ruwan Uduwerage-Perera @ Feb 8 20... Feb 8 2014, 03:50 PM On the edge QUOTE (Cognosco @ Feb 8 2014, 03:50 PM) Y... Feb 8 2014, 04:07 PM On the edge QUOTE (Cognosco @ Feb 8 2014, 03:50 PM) Y... Feb 8 2014, 04:07 PM MontyPython QUOTE (On the edge @ Feb 8 2014, 04:07 PM... Feb 8 2014, 04:44 PM motormad QUOTE (MontyPython @ Feb 8 2014, 04:44 PM... Feb 8 2014, 09:16 PM Strafin I've only just see your signature Simon, lol... Feb 1 2014, 08:56 PM Simon Kirby QUOTE (Strafin @ Feb 1 2014, 08:56 PM) I... Feb 1 2014, 10:01 PM On the edge Well, I hope they actually listen. Feb 8 2014, 03:10 PM Ruwan Uduwerage-Perera Dear Forum Members,
This evening I have been call... Feb 8 2014, 10:20 PM Simon Kirby QUOTE (Ruwan Uduwerage-Perera @ Feb 8 20... Feb 8 2014, 10:41 PM Ruwan Uduwerage-Perera QUOTE (Simon Kirby @ Feb 8 2014, 10:41 PM... Feb 8 2014, 10:47 PM MontyPython QUOTE (Ruwan Uduwerage-Perera @ Feb 8 20... Feb 9 2014, 12:41 AM Ruwan Uduwerage-Perera QUOTE (MontyPython @ Feb 9 2014, 12:41 AM... Feb 9 2014, 09:15 AM Biker1 QUOTE (Ruwan Uduwerage-Perera @ Feb 9 20... Feb 9 2014, 03:03 PM Strafin QUOTE (Ruwan Uduwerage-Perera @ Feb 8 20... Feb 9 2014, 04:25 PM motormad I don't think anyone specifically called you a... Feb 8 2014, 10:55 PM user23 It's a shame that a thread on quite an interes... Feb 9 2014, 08:47 AM Andy Capp QUOTE (user23 @ Feb 9 2014, 08:47 AM) It... Feb 9 2014, 10:21 AM user23 QUOTE (Andy Capp @ Feb 9 2014, 10:21 AM) ... Feb 9 2014, 11:24 AM Andy Capp QUOTE (user23 @ Feb 9 2014, 11:24 AM) I j... Feb 9 2014, 12:01 PM user23 QUOTE (Andy Capp @ Feb 9 2014, 12:01 PM) ... Feb 9 2014, 01:44 PM Cognosco QUOTE (user23 @ Feb 9 2014, 01:44 PM) Som... Feb 9 2014, 01:47 PM user23 QUOTE (Cognosco @ Feb 9 2014, 01:47 PM) N... Feb 9 2014, 01:54 PM Cognosco QUOTE (user23 @ Feb 9 2014, 01:54 PM) Wha... Feb 9 2014, 02:57 PM user23 QUOTE (Cognosco @ Feb 9 2014, 02:57 PM) Y... Feb 9 2014, 04:58 PM MontyPython QUOTE (user23 @ Feb 9 2014, 04:58 PM) I... Feb 9 2014, 05:16 PM Cognosco QUOTE (user23 @ Feb 9 2014, 08:47 AM) It... Feb 9 2014, 12:05 PM Ruwan Uduwerage-Perera QUOTE (Cognosco @ Feb 9 2014, 08:07 PM) W... Feb 9 2014, 08:21 PM Simon Kirby QUOTE (Ruwan Uduwerage-Perera @ Feb 9 20... Feb 9 2014, 08:20 PM MontyPython QUOTE (Simon Kirby @ Feb 9 2014, 08:20 PM... Feb 9 2014, 08:30 PM Andy Capp QUOTE (Simon Kirby @ Feb 9 2014, 08:20 PM... Feb 10 2014, 11:17 AM Cognosco QUOTE (Andy Capp @ Feb 10 2014, 11:17 AM)... Feb 10 2014, 04:11 PM Simon Kirby QUOTE (Andy Capp @ Feb 10 2014, 11:17 AM)... Feb 10 2014, 07:17 PM Andy Capp QUOTE (Simon Kirby @ Feb 10 2014, 07:17 P... Feb 10 2014, 09:38 PM Cognosco QUOTE (Simon Kirby @ Feb 10 2014, 07:17 P... Feb 13 2014, 06:38 PM Simon Kirby QUOTE (Cognosco @ Feb 13 2014, 06:38 PM) ... Feb 13 2014, 07:37 PM MontyPython QUOTE (Ruwan Uduwerage-Perera @ Feb 9 20... Feb 10 2014, 07:20 PM Lolly [quote name='MontyPython' date='Feb 10... Feb 10 2014, 08:17 PM Andy Capp QUOTE (Ruwan Uduwerage-Perera @ Feb 9 20... Feb 10 2014, 09:43 PM Cognosco QUOTE (Andy Capp @ Feb 10 2014, 09:43 PM)... Feb 11 2014, 04:46 PM Exhausted QUOTE (Andy Capp @ Feb 10 2014, 09:43 PM)... Feb 11 2014, 06:21 PM Andy Capp So early indications are that this is 'white e... Feb 11 2014, 06:32 PM Cognosco QUOTE (Andy Capp @ Feb 11 2014, 06:32 PM)... Feb 11 2014, 06:39 PM Andy Capp QUOTE (Cognosco @ Feb 11 2014, 06:39 PM) ... Feb 11 2014, 06:48 PM Cognosco QUOTE (Andy Capp @ Feb 11 2014, 06:48 PM)... Feb 11 2014, 07:17 PM MontyPython QUOTE (Andy Capp @ Feb 11 2014, 06:32 PM)... Feb 11 2014, 08:29 PM Simon Kirby I think the right to film councillors in council m... Feb 11 2014, 09:41 PM Andy Capp QUOTE (Simon Kirby @ Feb 11 2014, 09:41 P... Feb 11 2014, 10:28 PM Simon Kirby QUOTE (Andy Capp @ Feb 11 2014, 10:28 PM)... Feb 12 2014, 10:04 AM Ruwan Uduwerage-Perera Dear Forum Members,
At the most recent meeting of... Feb 12 2014, 08:57 AM motormad All of these talks of "come to our meetings... Feb 14 2014, 12:55 AM Ruwan Uduwerage-Perera QUOTE (motormad @ Feb 14 2014, 12:55 AM) ... Feb 14 2014, 01:20 PM blackdog QUOTE (Ruwan Uduwerage-Perera @ Feb 14 2... Feb 14 2014, 01:31 PM
2 Pages
1 2 >
9 User(s) are reading this topic (9 Guests and 0 Anonymous Users)
0 Members:
|
|