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!!