Issue - meetings

NOTICE OF MOTION GIVEN BY COUNCILLOR ROBERT MURPHY

Meeting: 13/06/2012 - Council (Item 20)

NOTICE OF MOTION CONCERNING ENGAGING WITH LOCAL PEOPLE

That this Council:-

 

(a)       notes the low turnout at the recent local elections for Sheffield City Council with just 32.77%, less than 1 in 3 of those registered, actually voting;

 

(b)       believes that inaccessibility and lack of transparency in Council matters is partly responsible for this apathy;

 

(c)        believes that the timing of meetings such as Full Council and Scrutiny Committees during normal working hours makes it difficult for many members of the public to attend;

 

(d)       believes that every effort should be made to increase access to and transparency of the decision making processes of Sheffield City Council;

 

(e)       believes that the audio of the debates and decision making parts of Full Council meetings should be made available through electronic media;

 

(f)         believes that the Council should be open to allowing recordings of such proceedings by members of the general public;

 

(g)       believes that after an initial evaluation, further council meetings that are open to the public should be made similarly accessible; and

 

(h)        therefore instructs the Chief Executive to bring forward plans to enable audio of Full Council meetings to be made available through electronic media, including the Council's website.

 

Minutes: