Press and public can now tweet and film in all council meetings
Local Government Secretary Eric Pickles signed a Parliamentary order today (Wednesday) giving people new rights to cover council meetings.
It means that members of the public and press will be able to use social networking sites like Twitter to report live from council chambers. They will also be able to film proceedings.
The new rules apply to all public meetings, including town and parish councils and fire and rescue authorities.
This new right will save me a lot of writing.
The new law builds on Margaret Thatcher’s successful Private Members’ Bill from 1960 which allowed for the written reporting of council meetings by the press.
Mr Pickles said: “Half a century ago, Margaret Thatcher championed a new law to allow the press to make written reports of council meetings. We have updated her analogue law for a digital age.
“Local democracy needs local journalists and bloggers to report and scrutinise the work of their council, and increasingly, people read their news via digital media. The new ‘right to report’ goes hand in hand with our work to stop unfair state competition from municipal newspapers – together defending the independent free press.
“There is now no excuse for any council not to allow these new rights. Parliament has changed the law, to allow a robust and healthy local democracy. This will change the way people see local government, and allow them to view close up the good work that councillors do.”
Tonight will be the first time I can lawfully film Oakham Town Council meetings. Although I see an issue developing because only last week, Deputy Mayor Cllr Alf Dewis told me Mr Pickles was wrong, he could not tell parish councils like Oakham what they could or not permit at their meetings
I hope filming will show the public the pointless nature of Oakham Town Council. The theatre, how decisions are often wrongfully led by the clerk or the chair. All points I have raised in the past and then been accused of lying.
At tonights meeting at 7pm Victoria Hall Oakham Town Council will be considering a letter from a member of the public concerning planning considerations.
The member of the member public thanks the council for its detailed past consideration of an application which was recently approved by Rutland County Council's planning officers and not their planning committee.
The planning application was the home of a former Oakham Mayor. Who sadly died.
The home is in a conservation area and will be extended to the side spoiling the street scene.
Her family leaving a super legacy in a unspoiled part of Oakham. Disgraceful when you consider the former Tory Mayor only joined Oakham Town Council to attempt to block the arrival of Tesco back in 2001.
Because it would spoil her view from her garden.
The member of the public is raising a concerns some which I have long held. It's my opinion Oakham Town Council has no interest in preserving the heritage of our town and has little or no effect when it comes to Rutland County Council deciding what happens in our town.
The first time I ever wrote to Oakham Town Council regarding the destruction of two fine Victorian homes in town. The Clerk replied 'its not a matter for the town council' I then wrote to the Leicestershire Victorian Society who repsonded, 'what do you want us to do about it?'
Of course if a member of the public turns up to one of the town council meetings the council puts on a bit of as show as the letter writer acknowledges.
Rutland County Council planning officers seem to have a total disregard to conservation areas. You only have to look at the delegated decisions made recently for Oakham School.
Local Government Secretary Eric Pickles signed a Parliamentary order today (Wednesday) giving people new rights to cover council meetings.
It means that members of the public and press will be able to use social networking sites like Twitter to report live from council chambers. They will also be able to film proceedings.
The new rules apply to all public meetings, including town and parish councils and fire and rescue authorities.
This new right will save me a lot of writing.
The new law builds on Margaret Thatcher’s successful Private Members’ Bill from 1960 which allowed for the written reporting of council meetings by the press.
Mr Pickles said: “Half a century ago, Margaret Thatcher championed a new law to allow the press to make written reports of council meetings. We have updated her analogue law for a digital age.
“Local democracy needs local journalists and bloggers to report and scrutinise the work of their council, and increasingly, people read their news via digital media. The new ‘right to report’ goes hand in hand with our work to stop unfair state competition from municipal newspapers – together defending the independent free press.
“There is now no excuse for any council not to allow these new rights. Parliament has changed the law, to allow a robust and healthy local democracy. This will change the way people see local government, and allow them to view close up the good work that councillors do.”
Tonight will be the first time I can lawfully film Oakham Town Council meetings. Although I see an issue developing because only last week, Deputy Mayor Cllr Alf Dewis told me Mr Pickles was wrong, he could not tell parish councils like Oakham what they could or not permit at their meetings
I hope filming will show the public the pointless nature of Oakham Town Council. The theatre, how decisions are often wrongfully led by the clerk or the chair. All points I have raised in the past and then been accused of lying.
At tonights meeting at 7pm Victoria Hall Oakham Town Council will be considering a letter from a member of the public concerning planning considerations.
The member of the member public thanks the council for its detailed past consideration of an application which was recently approved by Rutland County Council's planning officers and not their planning committee.
The planning application was the home of a former Oakham Mayor. Who sadly died.
The home is in a conservation area and will be extended to the side spoiling the street scene.
Her family leaving a super legacy in a unspoiled part of Oakham. Disgraceful when you consider the former Tory Mayor only joined Oakham Town Council to attempt to block the arrival of Tesco back in 2001.
Because it would spoil her view from her garden.
The member of the public is raising a concerns some which I have long held. It's my opinion Oakham Town Council has no interest in preserving the heritage of our town and has little or no effect when it comes to Rutland County Council deciding what happens in our town.
The first time I ever wrote to Oakham Town Council regarding the destruction of two fine Victorian homes in town. The Clerk replied 'its not a matter for the town council' I then wrote to the Leicestershire Victorian Society who repsonded, 'what do you want us to do about it?'
Of course if a member of the public turns up to one of the town council meetings the council puts on a bit of as show as the letter writer acknowledges.
Rutland County Council planning officers seem to have a total disregard to conservation areas. You only have to look at the delegated decisions made recently for Oakham School.
