Agenda and minutes

To receive a declaration of interest from any Member or Officer in respect of any item of business.

None received.

To submit for confirmation, the draft minutes of the meetings of this Committee held on the following dates:-

·      12^th May, 2016

·      24^th October, 2016

The draft minutes of the meeting of the Democratic Services Committee held on the 12th May, 2016 were confirmed as correct, subject to Councillor Bob Parry’s attendance being noted twice in the minutes.

The draft minutes of the meeting of this Committee held on the 24th October, 2016 were confirmed as correct.

To submit a report by the Head of Democratic Services.

Submitted - a report by the Head of Democratic Services in response to the Committee’s request for a report on the options available regarding webcasting.

Since June, 2014, the Council has been piloting webcasting meetings of the Council, the Executive and Planning and Orders Committee. The Council’s current arrangements for webcasting are in line with a number of Councils in Wales and some authorities have extended webcasting to include Scrutiny Committees.

It is likely that Welsh Government will refer to webcasting in the next Local Government Bill and any future mandatory requirements. The White Paper, Reforming Local Government Power to Local People (February 2015) made reference to “the intention at the time to legislate to require that all full Council and Executive meetings must be broadcast online, at the same time encouraging the broadcasting of Committees”.

The Head of Democratic Services reported on progress with regard to piloting webcasting, and noted that clarity was needed from the Welsh Government regarding the future funding of webcasting, and the availability of grant funding.

The Head of Democratic Services reported that the Senior Leadership Team recommend that the current arrangements for webcasting should continue for 2017/18.

Members discussed the possibility of extending webcasting to include the Scrutiny Committees, but recommended that the current pilot continue for 2017/18.

RESOLVED:-

•  To continue with the pilot of webcasting meetings of the Council, Executive and Planning and Orders Committee in 2017/18.

•  To recommend to the Executive that a sum of £10,000 be included in the budget for 2017/18 to cover necessary costs.

•  That representations be made to Welsh Government with regard to central government funding to cover cost and any future statutory requirements.