£74k - the price of council transparency?

Plymouth City Council approved a proposal on Monday (16 September) to continue to offer live webcasts of its meetings. The cost of the four or five year deal is estimated at £74,000.

Members of the Council's ruling Labour group voted to support the webcasting after a 12-month trial gain approximately 100,000 hits.

Labour council leaders argued that it would offer increased public transparency into council business.

Conservative opposition councillors voted against the decision on the grounds of cost. Cllr Ian Darcy, Shadow Economic Development spokesman, said:

"We have to squeeze budgets and work smarter and get more value for the taxpayer.

"So I have difficulty in supporting something that we're going to be shackling the council to for the next four or five years. We will end up regretting this decision."

But Labour'sdeputy leader Cllr Pete Smith argued that the scheme could cost less than 1p per day:

"We keep getting complaints that people don't know what we're doing.

"To get people interested in politics - being open and transparent - is what it's all about. That's exactly what we're doing."

But will people watch and is it value for money?

An average of 194 people watched each council meeting broadcast live online during the trial.

Governing councillors believe this compares well to an average of 20 people who attend council meetings in person.

But does that offer value for money given the council's declared £65m budget shortfall?

How much should we be willing to pay for greater transparency of our local politics? Let us know what you think.

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