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Council returns to recording meetings LYME Regis Town Council is to look into audio recording its meetings again, after members said it would improve transparency, accuracy of the minutes and behaviour in the chamber. The town council previously installed video and audio recording equipment in the Guildhall at a cost of £6,493. However, the recording of meetings was scrapped in 2016 as the equipment was deemed “not fit for purpose”. Councillors have now asked for costs of audio recording equipment only, with some members saying it would improve openness and transparency with the public, as well as councillors’ behaviour. The Mayor of Lyme Regis, Councillor Michaela Ellis, said she was not convinced by the arguments in favour of recording meetings, and councillors’ behaviour “should already be impeccable”. Councillor Jeff Scowen, arguing in favour of recordings, replied: “It should be, but it’s not.” Some members also said that audio recordings could be used to improve the accuracy of the council’s minutes, but town clerk John Wright said the minute taker would still rely on their notes to write the minutes.
LYME Regis resident Clive Juster - who was editor of TV series ‘Mr Benn’ was presented The Special Award at the British Academy’s Children’s Awards - one of the academy’s highest honours - for a life devoted to children’s television. See page 3 for full story. Photo by Richard Austin
Crossing a no go?
Rock legend’s auction boosts charity funds ROCK legend Ian Gillan has helped to raise more than £11,000 in much-needed funds for youth music charity B Sharp. Mr Gillan, lead singer of Deep Purple and the band Gillan, donated musical equipment and memorabilia for auction to raise funds for the Lyme Regis-based charity, via Omega Auctions Ltd. REPORT, PAGE 7
PEDESTRIAN CROSSING RECOMMENDED FOR REFUSAL
PLANS for a pedestrian crossing in Broad Street, Lyme Regis, have been recommended for refusal ahead of a Dorset County Council meeting next week.
The county council’s Regulatory Committee will make a final decision on the proposed puffin crossing on December 6, with officers
FRANCESCA EVANS
francesca@lyme-online.co.uk recommending that the £82,500 scheme be scrapped. Lyme Regis Town Council first requested a pedestrian crossing in 2016 when more than 600 residents signed a petition in favour of the idea, but several councillors have since retracted their support
and the plans received significant opposition when they went to public consultation. After Dorset County Council drew up initial plans for the crossing, councillors expressed concerns about its proposed location between the Pug & Puffin and Joules stores, and the number of on-street parking spaces that would be lost initially thought to be seven or
eight. County council officers said the location was the only practical position for the crossing, because of access to private properties and car parks, and the disabled parking bay outside Boots. However, they agreed to reduce the length of the zig-zag markings on the lower side
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