Report of Executive Director (Legal and Democratic Services) attached

The Cabinet considered a report of the Executive Director (Legal and Democratic Services) responding to the Notice of Motion, presented at the last meeting of the Council, requesting that consideration be given to extending webcasting to the Council’s Scrutiny Committees and enhancing the use of social media in conjunction with live recorded meetings.

Resolved:-

1.  That webcasting of meetings of the Cabinet and the three scrutiny committees (to be held in the Council chamber) be trialled during the June/July 2020 cycle of meetings, subject to the Chairs of the scrutiny committees being content for the trial to be applied to meetings of those committees.

2.  That officers be requested to consider ways of enhancing the use of social media in conjunction with the webcasting arrangements.

Reasons for Decision

To further improve the transparency and accessibility of meetings of the Cabinet and scrutiny committees.

Other Options

Not to extend webcasting to Cabinet and the three Council scrutiny committees.

Note: This is an Executive Function

Referred direct to Policy and Resources Scrutiny Committee

Cabinet Member: Cllr Gilbert

Notice of Motion attached

Resolved:

That in accordance with Standing Order 8.4 the following Notice of Motion, be referred to the Cabinet:

‘Transparent and Accessible Council

This Council should remain transparent and accessible to all residents in Southend. With more people turning to the internet and social media to keep informed about the events in their local area. At present only the Full Council meeting is streamed live on the council’s website. This has meant that residents who are unable to attend important public meetings such as cabinet and the three scrutiny committees, whether due to mobility issues or prior commitments, are unable to scrutinise the decisions made at this level.

Therefore, this Council resolves to:

a) Host all public Place, People and Policy and Resource Scrutiny Committees in the full chamber where they should be recorded with the cameras to be streamed live and stored on the Council website

b) To stream live all recorded meetings on social media platforms where possible.

c) To ensure live updates on the Council’s social media page happens for every social media feed.’

Proposed by: Cllr Habermel

Seconded by:  Cllr Boyd