PRESS RELEASE
Issued by:
Councillor Gill Gardiner
Date of Issue: 15th Feb 2007
Contact number:
0151
625 2738
|
|
PRESS RELEASE |
|
COMING TO YOU LIVE SOON – WIRRAL'S PLANNING COMMITTEE Live Webcam broadcasting of Wirral's Planning Committee came a step nearer today with the announcement of a test run. Webcasting equipment has been installed in the Town Hall's Committee Room 1, ready for tonight's Planning Committee meeting (Thursday 15 February). Staff will just be testing the equipment at this stage. The bold initiative to bring Committee proceedings live to the public was proposed by Liberal Democrat Councillors in February last year and agreed. In November the Council gave the formal go-ahead to a 12-month trial. Councillor Gill Gardiner , Liberal Democrat Spokesperson on Wirral's Planning Committee said, “This is great news and marks a huge step forward in making Wirral Council more accessible and accountable to the general public. “ Local residents who can't attend meetings will have an opportunity to play a part in the local democratic process, and get involved in the decisions affecting their lives. “ For those who are unable to watch proceedings live an archive of up to 120 hours of recorded meetings will be available that can be viewed at any time. “I hope we'll be able to extend the scheme to cover any public Council meetings and also take it into our communities to improve the quality of our public consultation on important issues.” The results of tonight's trial will be used to help train Councillors and Council officers for the Planning meetings in March and April, prior to the system going live after the elections in May. Councillor Gill Gardiner added, “However this is only the beginning. I hope we'll be able to extend the scheme to cover any public Council meetings and also take it into our communities to improve the quality of our public consultation on important issues. Other Councils have done this successfully and use the system for presentations on topical issues, or to enable the Chief Executive to address staff via the Council's intranet. It can also be further extended into promoting tourism and public consultation.” |