Thursday 14 July 2011

Embrace 21st Century Technology

Plaid Calls for Council to embrace new technology.

Plaid Cymru County Councillor Dyfrig Thomas has called on the
Independent/Labour administration to embrace new technology at its
public meetings and bring its public engagement into the 21^st century.

Cllr Thomas said

"Sound recording as well as filming would give greater transparency, and

create a powerful and effective means of holding decision-makers to
public account. After the fiasco at the meeting of the 8^th of June when

Mrs Thompson was removed from the gallery, the public just cannot
understand what was wrong in filming the proceedings. She was not
interfering with the meeting in any way.

"A sound system is already in place in the chamber and two fixed cameras

would be sufficient to pan the whole chamber. It could be done with the
minimum of cost and would require very little resources. There would be
a true record of the proceedings, and lower grade managers could become
aware of councillors views.

Cllr Thomas added that the way forward is to form a working group to
look at how best to proceed.