City council's £400k plan to livestream all meetings online

LOXLEY HOUSE COMMITTEE ROOM UPDATE TO BOOST TRANSPARENCY

- By JOE LOCKER Local democracy reporter

NOTTINGHAM City Council is spending more than £400,000 to livestream all meetings to improve transparency.

City councillors have long called for improved audio and livestreaming for the council's public meetings.

The ground-floor committee room at Loxley House, where most meetings are held, has been repeatedly criticised for its poor acoustics and lack of microphones or audio equipment.

The ability to watch meetings online has become more commonplace particularly due to the Covid pandemic - but only full council meetings at Nottingham Council House are streamed live on YouTube.

The Labour-led authority has allocated £435,000 to “engage with a provider to webcast meetings” and buy audio equipment.

The money will be used for equipment including screens, microphones and recording equipment, as well as the software needed for recording and livestreaming meetings.

A spokesperson said all formal meetings would be available in real time, with recordings available on the council's website afterwards.

Equipment will also be improved in the Council House chamber.