'Broadcast more council meetings? I would rather watch paint dry!'

Extension opposed as member admits 'sometimes they can be really boring'

- Phil Corrigan

CITY councillors have voted against webcasting more meetings - saying people would ‘rather watch paint dry’.

Stoke-on-Trent City Council broadcasts cabinet, full council and planning committee meetings on its website, allowing members of the public to watch proceedings from the comfort of their own homes.

But new figures show some recent meetings had as few as 11 viewers watching live - although most had over 100 archive views.

Members of the strategy and resources scrutiny committee discussed the webcasting system and the potential for using it to broadcast more meetings. But most were against the idea, saying there is little evidence the public wants to watch more council meetings.