Lewisham Green Party

‘iPolitics’ just a click away after vote to air meetings online

29 January 2010

Watching council meetings on the internet could be just a click away after Lewisham's political parties voted unanimously for the Green Party's proposal.

An endorsement of the plan by a local disability group this month helped persuade councillors it would boost democracy if those who can't attend in person could watch their representatives online.

The motion called on the Mayor to set out a timetable for webcasts and podcasts if the costs are reasonable.

Green Party Group leader Cllr Darren Johnson said afterwards:

"I am very pleased with the cross-party endorsement of this Green Party idea. The council has a great deal of power but too few people see it taking and debating important decisions, even when they care deeply about the issues.

"Putting our meetings online will make us all more accessible to busy residents with work commitments, childcare and caring duties, as well as those with disabilities.

"We already have the technology in place to webcast and podcast our meetings, so I expect the costs will be reasonable and I hope to see a timetable in place soon."

The successful motion read:

This council:

  • Believes webcasting or podcasting would strengthen equality, access and open democracy by making meetings more accessible for residents with disabilities, residents who are unwell and residents whose family, caring or work responsibilities make attendance impossible;
  • Notes that webcasting or podcasting of council meetings is increasingly used by other local authorities and that Lewisham Council is developing a new web platform which has the capability for webcasting or podcasting;
  • Calls for the webcasting or podcasting and archiving of full council meetings to be introduced in Lewisham, as well as of planning committee meetings and Mayor & Cabinet meetings where feasible; and
  • Calls on the Mayor to commission a report setting out a comparison with other authorities experience, and the costs and, where these are reasonable, a timetable for implementation.

Notes to editor

Campaign for Independent Living in Lewisham endorsed the webcasting proposal in its January 2010 issue of Disability Review, in which it wrote:

"Many disabled people cannot get to meetings for many different reasons - the issue of transport is a real concern and restricts many, others can't sit in meetings or can't get out of their homes, some need to be accompanied (and can't arrange it) or are too fatigued by the evening. Likewise carers often cannot get to meetings because of their caring responsibilities.

"The right to active citizenship is something the Disability Movement has long argued for and government policy supports this yet many of us cannot get to council meetings - surely if we are ever to have equality of citizenship we must be able to access the democratic process and follow issues that are being debated and decisions that are being made that will affect our lives."

 


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