Janet Finch-Saunders;6. Will the Minister make a statement on the progress of the live streaming/webcasting initiative of council proceedings in Wales? OAQ(4)0419(LG)
Lesley Griffiths;Thank you. A sum of £1.25 million was provided to local authorities by the Welsh Government in March 2013 to broadcast council meetings. Sixteen local authorities, as well as Brecon Beacons National Park Authority, have opened up their proceedings on the internet. The Vale of Glamorgan has announced that it is due to start broadcasting shortly.
Janet Finch-Saunders;Thank you. The clue there was ‘council proceedings’, and it is really good to hear that 16 councils are now embracing this. However, some concerns have been raised with me about whether this funding is used for all council proceedings or whether some local authorities are choosing to cherry-pick the meetings where live streaming is used. As all council business is rubber-stamped at council and cabinet, would you not agree that for meaningful transparency within local authorities it is essential that these meetings are recorded? There is also another concern about whether they then go onto the internet for people to view after a meeting has taken place. Minister, will you monitor the use of the considerable amount of funding that you have given to ensure that it is used for its purpose and will you ensure that our Welsh taxpayers are able to access the decision-making process after the meetings have taken place?
Lesley Griffiths;Yes, I will certainly be monitoring and evaluating all local authorities that are broadcasting their meetings. I think that it is important that we ensure that democracy is as open and transparent as possible.