Topic: Broadcasting Swindon Borough Council Meetings

[Simon]

Here you go...........

http://www.plymouth.public-i.tv/core/portal/webcast_interactive/93362

With a timely reminder from the chair that they are being recorded.

Wow... They're self hosting, they don't even rely on youtube to publish their videos. And they've got a clever thing which tells you who's speaking at what time. And everyone's got a sort of name badge in front of them which tells you who they are when they're speaking.

I didn't watch the full 3 1/2 hours because I'm not all that interested in local politics in Plymouth, but if I was leader or chief executive of SBC, I'd be paying a visit to Plymouth to find out how they do it and how it could be done here. Big thumbs-up to Plymouth (because I can't find the thumbs-up smiley again)

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[Simon]

Why cant we just have a simple system, like they have in the commons and house of lords, ie the Hansard system, where everthing said is 'recorded' on paper and then issued as a transcript.

That would certainly be beneficial (and more friendly to search engines), but I suspect that it would also be expensive. Someone would have to listen to all the words and write them down. It's cheaper to put a video or audio recording onto the www than to pay someone to listen to all the words and type them back into the www.

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[Mart]

Someone would have to listen to all the words and write them down.

Bit like minutes then?

Does somebody really write all the Hansard gubbins down? I always thought clever transcribing jiggery pokery was involved, silly now I think of it I suppose.

Video it is then.

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[Geoff Reid]

Someone would have to listen to all the words and write them down.

Bit like minutes then?

Does somebody really write all the Hansard gubbins down? I always thought clever transcribing jiggery pokery was involved, silly now I think of it I suppose.

Video it is then.

Yup.  A lot of the seats in the gallery above and behind the speakers chair are Hansard seats.  I find it incredible that they sit up there, day after day and record every damn word said in the house of commons and very rarely make a mistake.

It still gives me a little glow to know that I paid a very small part in getting Cllr Rod Bluh's name permanently into the Hansard records because of his WiFi'asco.

Later this year I'll probably have a gentle pop at getting him another sort of record entirely.

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[Muggins]

As minute taker/writer of some years and experience, I can tell you that I am not a verbatim minute writer - that is a specialist skill and cost's a lot to hire one.

The other sort of minutes, and I've just realised why they are called 'minutes', is because what you can get down is 'minutes' from the hours of meetings you have to sit through to record them.

Some people grumble that my minutes take a bit longer to read, because I usually record the discussion rather than 'report' just the motion (horrible word which we NEVER use in meetings) and the conclusion reached. They also help people who don't attend the meeting understand what went on and they become historical docments too.  I stubbornly refuse to reduce them for that reason. 

There are programmes for the PC that can be trained to copy as you speak, but the results of that for me were a hilarious. It is easier to take notes and type up ASAP.   

If a meeting is covered by a verbatim minute taker, then that person needs to be fully conversant with what's going on too.  Some years ago, we had to employ one and just trying to attribute the remarks to names was difficult because they had not met beforehand etc.

Simon is right, a very experienced, with high word count, audio typist/would be better, if you can get the meeting recorded.  Best of all would be just like Plymouth's system. See it, hear it.

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[Muggins]

SBC Rents Consultation January 2013	Small | Large

SBC makes start.  You must watch all 25 minutes.

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[Alex]

Dear God, I managed 10.29 minutes and that's only because I was multi tasking.

Is it a deliberate policy to bore people to death so no new or interesting information can be presented? Or no people who have the will to live would dream of becoming involved?  Who made the rule it has to be this tedious?

Surely it  could have been condensed into 5 minutes and 2 slides . And we know the devil is in the details- but you cannot possibly believe that the audience comprehended avery last nuance and fact.  People are paid to do their jobs and look after the details, and broadcast the highlights so that, if interested, people can ask for specifics later and they are there..

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[Muggins]

I've just realised that as the thing was recorded, - unless it was edited afterwards- those present sat quietly and didn't ask questions. 

Not the best way to take anything in. The first rule of talking not to talk for too long without a break unless the subject matter is really interesting and they are paying you to do it.

This becomes a lecture - most of us didn't go to Uni and sit through lectures. And most of us won't do it now without interrupting with a question or two. It keeps the meeting lively and alert and the deliverer/speaker on their toes.

Presentation and public speaking training is available

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[Simon]

SBC Rents Consultation January 2013

SBC makes start.  You must watch all 25 minutes.

I think that event was an entirely different beast to the sort of council meetings that we really want to be filmed. And I suspect that SBC didn't make the video, looks more like the work of a volunteer with a camera who cares enough about the subject to want to spend their own time sharing the information from the event more widely. Much like I sometimes do (although it wasn't me in this case).

I've just realised that as the thing was recorded, - unless it was edited afterwards- those present sat quietly and didn't ask questions.

I don't think it was edited. They probably had Q&A after the film ended. I couldn't possibly say whether or not the contributions from the floor had any influence on SBC policy.

I think the council meetings which need to be recorded and published are the ones where policies are decided, e.g. the full council meeting and the cabinet meeting.

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[Muggins]

Yes, you are right that it is a different beast than a full council meeting, but at least someone has now attempted to do something with a camera for the benefit of others.

I suspect it was a tenant idea and a tenant was allowed to do it.  I also suspect that the tenants that will watch it will have questions of their own and wonder if those present asked those questions. 

I wonder if the tenants reps were reluctant to do that part, or if it was not allowed?

But if you have a busy day, are slightly interested in sitting through it, something jollier needs to be done to keep attention.  Not critisising the camerawork. 

They are asking for feedback!

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[Richard Symonds]

I didn't watch the full 3 1/2 hours because I'm not all that interested in local politics in Plymouth, but if I was leader or chief executive of SBC, I'd be paying a visit to Plymouth to find out how they do it and how it could be done here. Big thumbs-up to Plymouth (because I can't find the thumbs-up smiley again)

Look Simon it is a question of the will to do it and there is none otherwise it would have happened by now.  The point is they are desperate to keep their activities known to just a few of the people of Swindon because if they were ever to find out there would be trouble for them.

Apparently there is already a facility for anyone to record the meetings provided permission is given in advance.  The question is there anybody out there prepared to do it?

Someone would have to listen to all the words and write them down.

Bit like minutes then?

The minutes are, in my opinion not a true reflection of what happened at meetings as the information contained in them is highly selective. 

Questions are never stated and neither are the answers, just something like 'Mr Richard Symonds, a resident of The Bramptons asked a question regarding the minutes of the Committee held on November 5th 2012.  He also asked a supplementary question regarding outstanding written answers to two questions put by him at that meeting.' 

What a useless bit of verbage!!  The writer obviously didn't study precis at school, but more importantly the questions asked and answers given could have amounted to more or less the same number of words.

What it didn't say was that I questioned as to why questions had not been written down and an account of the reply given.  These minutes, as a record of proceedings are extremely wanting and rely on people's memories and notes.  At best they are a record of the subject discussed, the decision, but not the content of the discussion

Readers will be aware that I have been told that there is no requirement on the Council to do this.

We need Video recording and we need it now!!

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[Muggins]

The council does and always has kept 'report' type records rather than proper minutes.  I've said before, that we need someone to take and prepare our own set of minutes. Or is it frowned upon to take pen and paper into chamber.  Or several people taking it down and them meeting to put it altogether.

It wouldn't be verbatim all the way, but it would be better than what is happening now.
But another point to minutes is that the next time the committee meets they agree them as a true reocrd or otherwise and that more or less sets them in stone as the True Record.

The writing of proper minutes is powerful weapon...........when done properly.

Better discussion went on when they had the committee rather than the cabinet system.

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[Richard Symonds]

I, for one would never agree to these minutes as being an accurate record of proceedings and would vote accordingly., i.e. against!!

What I do not know is why none of the present Councillors seem to share this opinion?

Or is this a further indication of their desire to keep things as vague as possible so they do not have to account for anything?

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[oldtowner]

If we ever get to recording Council meetings I would propose that they are broadcast at Wharf Green.

That would be a step towards openness and transparency and keeping the populace informed.

Although seeing the Leader go off on one and losing it may adversely impact footfall.

Perhaps I should rethink that 

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[Richard Symonds]

Although seeing the Leader go off on one and losing it may adversely impact footfall.

You never know OT it could even increase footfall as it could be described as being better than the 'soaps'!

It might certainly justify the phenomenal cost that is the big telly.

Might it get the chop(er)?

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[Muggins]

Just what I was thinking Richard, some people would pay good money to see it, so lets get it put on at one of the cinema's, the entry cost could cover the funding cuts to the voluntary sector.

We know there is a market for it - just look at Big Brother.

PS 

You'd hear them saying, Who is he? who is He?  Where did they get him from?   

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[Simon]

The minutes are, in my opinion not a true reflection of what happened at meetings as the information contained in them is highly selective. 

Yep, I seldom seek out the minutes of such SBC meetings because they really don't tell me anything about what actually happened.

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