"Councils should open up their public meetings to local news ‘bloggers’ and routinely allow online filming of public discussions as part of increasing their transparency."
2 and a half years later and Richard Taylor finds out that how far behind the local Conservatives really are!
Can I turn up and film and/or record proceedings?
The answer, according to each LA standing orders is as follows:
Cambs County Council: Yes
Cambs Fire Authority: Yes
East Cambs DC: Yes - I can find no specific prohibition for or against filming or recording
Huntingdonshire DC: No
Fenland DC: No
South Cambs: No
Time and again it is the Conservative run District Councils, for the most part, are behind the times and behind Conservative policy!
The Liberal Democrat run Cambridge City Council allow turn up filming.
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South Cambs DC
21.4 Recording of Business
Unless specifically authorised by resolution, no audio and / or visual or photographic
recording in any format is allowed at any meeting of the Council, the Executive, or any
committee or sub-committee of the Council or the Executive.
Huntingdonshire District Council
17A. PHOTOGRAPHY, BROADCASTING AND RECORDING OF MEETINGS
Filming, videoing or audio recording of a meeting or photography at a Council
meeting shall be permitted only with the consent of the Chairman of the
meeting concerned. The necessary consent shall have been obtained and the
Head of Paid Service, or in his absence, the Head of Legal and Democratic
Services notified by no later than three working days before the meeting.
Fenland DC
21 PHOTOGRAPHY AND AUDIO/VISUAL RECORDING OF MEETINGS
The filming, video filming, photographing or audio recording of a
meeting shall not be permitted by any person without the explicit
consent of the Chairman of the meeting concerned following
consultation with the Chief Executive . The necessary consent
shall have been obtained and the proper officer notified by no
later than one hour before the meeting.
Cambs Fire Authority
FILMING, VIDEOING, PHOTOGRAPHY AND AUDIO RECORDING AT FIRE AUTHORITY MEETINGS
The Fire Authority supports the principle of transparency and encourages filming, recording and taking photographs at its meetings that are open to the public. It also welcomes the use of social networking websites (such as Twitter and Facebook) and micro-blogging to communicate with people about what is happening, as it happens.
There is no requirement to notify the Fire Authority in advance, but it should be noted that the Chairman of the meeting will have absolute discretion to terminate or suspend any of these activities if, in their opinion, continuing to do so would prejudice proceedings at the meeting. The circumstances in which termination or suspension might occur could include:
public disturbance or suspension of the meeting
the meeting agreeing to formally exclude the press and public from the meeting due to the confidential nature of the business being discussed
the meeting agreeing to formally exclude the press and public from the meeting due to the confidential nature of the business being discussed
where it is considered that continued recording/photography/filming/webcasting might infringe the rights of any individual, and
when the Chairman, considers that a defamatory statement has been made.
In allowing this, the Fire Authority asks those recording proceedings not to edit the film/ record/photographs in a way that could lead to misinterpretation of the proceedings, or infringe the core values of the Fire Authority. This includes refraining from editing an image or views expressed in a way that may ridicule, or show a lack of respect towards those being photographed/filmed/ recorded.
Those intending to bring large equipment, or wishing to discuss any special requirements are advised to contact the Fire and Rescue Service’s Communications Team in advance of the meeting to seek advice and guidance. The use of flash photography or additional lighting will not be allowed unless this has been discussed in advance of the meeting and agreement reached on how it can be done without disrupting proceedings.
At the beginning of each meeting, the Chairman will make an announcement that the meeting may be filmed, recorded or photographed. Meeting agendas will also carry this message.
16. PHOTOGRAPHY AND AUDIO RECORDINGS OF MEETINGS
The Authority supports the principle of transparency and encourages filming, recording and taking photographs at its meetings that are open to the public. It also welcomes the use of social networking and micro-blogging websites (such as Twitter and Facebook) to communicate with people about what is happening, as it happens. These arrangements will operate in accordance with a protocol agreed by the Chairman of the Authority and political Group Leaders. This protocol will be published on the Authority’s website.
Cambridge City Council
Cambridge City Council protocol on audio/visual recording and
photography at Council meetings.
The Council is committed to being open and transparent in the way it
conducts its decision making. Recording is permitted at council meetings
which are open to the public. The Council understands that some members of
the public attending its meetings may not wish to be recorded. The Chair of
the meeting will facilitate by ensuring that any such request not to be recorded
is respected by those doing the recording.
The rules which the Council will apply are:
1. Anyone wishing to record must let the Chair of the meeting know and the
recording must be overt (i.e clearly visible to anyone at the meeting). The
Council will supply signs which will be deployed at any meeting all or part of
which is to be recorded.
2. The Chair of the meeting has absolute discretion to stop or suspend
recording if in their opinion continuing to do so would prejudice proceedings at
the meeting or if the person recording is in breach of these rules. The
circumstances in which this might occur include :
recording is disrupting the proceedings of the meeting
there is public disturbance or a suspension of the meeting
the meeting has resolved to exclude the public for reasons which are set
down in the Council’s Constitution
3. Any member of the public has the right not to be recorded. We ensure that
agendas for, and signage at, council meetings make it clear that recording
can take place – if anyone does not wish to be recorded they must let the
Chair of the meeting know
4. The recording should not be edited in a way that could lead to
misinterpretation or misrepresentation of the proceedings or infringement of
the Council’s values or; in a way that ridicules or shows a lack of respect for
those in the recording. The Council would expect any recording in breach of
these rules to be removed from public view.
Notes for guidance:
Please contact Democratic Services in advance of the meeting if the
recording you wish to do involves large equipment or special requirements.
The use of lighting for filming/flash photography is allowed if it is arranged with
Democratic Services prior to the meeting. We require this so we can ensure
the meeting will not be unduly disrupted and there is a safe environment to
transact the business.
A failure to follow these requirements may lead to a request to record being
refused at subsequent council meetings.
Recording and reporting the council’s meetings is subject to the law and it is
the responsibility of those doing the recording and reporting to ensure
compliance. This will include the Human Rights Act, the Data Protection Act
and the laws of libel and defamation.
