------ Original Message ------
To: "Lafferty, A (Cllr)" <
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Sent: Saturday, 6 Apr, 2019 At 13:53
Subject: Re: Cabinet meeting 4 April 2019 - Audio Record
Hi Alan
I was in the public gallery for the Cabinet meeting.
Although it was not clear, you would appear to have refused the request to audio record this Cabinet meeting.
You did not give any reasons.
I understand that it is being reported by the clerk to the cabinet that the 'cabinet' voted against audio recording and that this decision will remain in force until the next elections.
Is this Labour Party Policy?
As you will be aware the Scottish government are promoting community empowerment and a large and important part of that is openness and transparency in local government.
Would appreciate if you can explain your reasons why you voted against permitting audio recording.
I have outlined my reasons in the emails below. You still fail to give any reasons.
The Audit & Scrutiny Committee routinely give permission for audio recording.
As said, I don't think it unreasonable to request that you give your reasons.
Thanks
------ Original Message ------
To: "Lafferty, A (Cllr)" <
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Sent: Monday, 1 Apr, 2019 At 12:14
Subject: Re: Cabinet meeting 4 April 2019 - Audio Record
Hi Alan
You still fail to give any reasons.
As said, I don't think it unreasonable to request that you give your reasons.
Thanks
------ Original Message ------
From: "Lafferty, A (Cllr)" <
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Sent: Monday, 1 Apr, 2019 At 12:08
Subject: Re: Cabinet meeting 4 April 2019 - Audio Record
Have already replied.
Sent from my Samsung Galaxy smartphone.
-------- Original message --------
Date: 01/04/2019 11:40 (GMT+00:00)
To: "Lafferty, A (Cllr)" <
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Subject: Cabinet meeting 4 April 2019 - Audio Record
Hi Alan
Again, a request has been made to audio record the Cabinet meeting on 4 April 2019.
No reasons have been given in the previous meetings minutes as to why audio recording was refused.
As we still live in a Democracy, as a constituent and as you are my elected Councillor would appreciate if you could give any reasons why this meeting should not be audio recorded.
As the Audit & Scrutiny Committee routinely give permission for audio recording would appreciate if you can give your reasons why you disagree with any of below.
Audio Recording can -
strengthen the Council’s democratic accountability to the public, both directly and via the local media and enable audiences to:
- replay meetings after they have taken place, which may be helpful when the meeting time is inconvenient.
- hear meetings more clearly.
- obtain a better understanding of the workings of the Council.
- better engage in local democratic political processes.
- it will introduce greater equality of access to Council meetings
- It will allow people who are physically unable to attend meetings of the Council or have hearing difficulties to listen at a time convenient to them.
- a verbatim record of proceedings which Members and others can be provided with and could access and listen to after the event.
As you are aware my preference is for the Council to get value for money and for these meetings to be webcast within the current 30 hrs contract.
Unfortunately, as the Council are prepared to waste money, then audio recording of these meetings by Residents/Council Tax Payers is the only current option available for them to listen at a more convenient time.
To be honest as a Senior Constituent it is very difficult at times to follow what is going on.
As said audio recording allows you to listen and check on what you may have missed.
I speak as one of the few who have experience of these meetings.
I am quite happy to be open and transparent in giving my reasons for the audio recording of this meeting.
Council and Officials -
- Consider only themselves
- Consider the meeting is only being held for their benefit
- Have a general disregard for those in the public gallery.
- give little consideration to the needs of Residents/Council Tax Payers in the Public Gallery.
- pay little heed to ensure Residents/Council Tax Payers in the Public Gallery can hear and/or follow proceedings.
- when they speak regularly fail to ensure that Residents/Council Tax Payers in the Public Gallery can hear and/or follow proceedings.
- fail to switch on microphones.
- regularly mumble.
- do not speak into microphones.
- speak off microphone
The Audio in the chamber is very poor.
There is certainly no cost to ERC.
The Audit & Scrutiny Committee seem to have no problem with audio recording and routinely give their permission.
I will be quite happy to provide you with any audio recording.
Again, I think it unreasonable that you do not give reasons for your denying audio recording.
So would appreciate if you can give your reasons.
Thanks
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