Filming & Recording of Meetings

Under the terms of The Openness of Local Government Bodies Regulations 2014 filming and recording of local council meetings, committee meetings and sub-committee meetings is permitted. The following guidelines apply:

1. Whilst a meeting of the Council, its committees or sub-committees is open to the public, any person present may film, photograph or make an audio recording of a meeting. They may also use any other means for enabling persons not present to see or hear proceedings at a meeting as it takes place or later. Any person may report or comment on the proceedings in writing during or after the meeting or orally report or comment after the meeting.
   
   
2. Oral reporting, commentary or broadcasting is not permitted during any part of the meeting of the Council, its committees or sub-committees.
   
   
3. An individual must be present and able to use their equipment in order to film, photograph or audio record a meeting. There will be no opportunity to report on any part of the meeting where the Council has resolved to exclude the press and public.
   
   
4. No filming, photographing or audio recording of a meeting should be carried out in such a way as to disrupt the proceedings of the meeting. If persons disregard the request of the Chairman of the meeting to moderate or improve their behaviour any councillor or the Chairman of the meeting may move that the person be instructed to cease filming, photographing or audio recording. If such a resolution is ignored the Chairman of the meeting may take further reasonable steps to restore order or to progress the meeting. This may include temporarily suspending or closing the meeting.