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Vol 25 l Issue 44
31 October 2018
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COUNCIL SAYS NO TO LIVE STREAMS OF MEETINGS
INSIDE THIS WEEK...
Report by Danielle Thompson
LIVE-STREAMING of council meetings will not be implemented due to budget constraints, despite calls for the council to be ‘more opaque.’ Borough councillor and former MP John Pugh called for the live-streaming over the web of some council meetings, particularly full council and planning committees. He argues that the public have a right not only to know, but to see what is being done in their name. He told the Champion: “We have to accept that councils are far more opaque and secretive than most public bodies in a digital age. “There has been considerable resentment from some quarters when members of the public have tried to video or live tweet proceedings but an official record would put those concerns to rest. “Interested members of the public find it a struggle in the depths of winter to hoof it down to a draughty town hall one or other end of the borough.
Scouts race to victory
SPORTY youngsters from the 9th Formby Scouts won the annual Chariot Race competition in Bispham. The troop entered three teams, with one team winning the Scout Section race and also logging the fastest Scout lap of the weekend, completing the course in 7.37 minutes at Bispham Hall Scout Campsite. The winning A Team comprised of Tristan Callow, James Thompson, Max Dickinson, Alex Gardiner, James Shaw and Jasper Berry. Mark Sheil, assistant Scout leader for the group said: “The chariot is a two wheeled, free standing vehicle capable of carrying a passenger over a rough, cross country course approximately 1,000 yards in length.
Continued inside
Benchmark for Rotarians
Democracy
The winning team with their trophies
“While accepting that council meetings will never trouble TV ratings to challenge the soaps, the very low cost of live streaming must tempt us to see if it can enhance local democracy. “From first hand observation I cannot see that Sefton should have anything to hide. Like with the televising of parliament there is the possibility that it could change behaviour of councillors but I have seen nothing first hand on Sefton being as bad as the catcalling and boorishness of Prime Minster’s Questions. Continued inside
Veterans at Woodvale CROSSWORD See Page 28
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