By Andrew Topping, Local Democracy Reporter
Mansfield District Council has spent £9,000 on new cameras and live-streaming technology to “improve access and transparency” at its meetings.
The Labour-run council rolled out the technology at its full council meeting on Tuesday (September 5) having previously used an iPad and Facebook Live.
The authority has instead opted for new microphones, a presentation screen, two cameras, cabling and a sound deck at its Civic Centre chamber.
Meetings – including full council and the planning committee – had previously been streamed on Facebook but are now on Microsoft Teams.
This, the authority says, came with no added cost as part of its existing Microsoft package.
In a statement, the council said the new technology was bought to improve its broadcasts and the accessibility of its public meetings.
It was purchased at the end of June following a non-key decision approved by James Biddlestone, the council’s head of people and transformation.
Papers published at the time confirmed 32 microphones, a receiver, storage and carry cases cost about £5,300.
The costs associated with the cameras and the remaining equipment “came in under the limit” for a specific council decision to be taken, the council added.
It’s part of the authority’s bid to “improve access to local democracy” and allow people to view meetings if they are unable to attend in person.
A spokeswoman told the Local Democracy Reporting Service: “To improve the broadcasting and accessibility of public meetings and enable hybrid working and attendance, the council has spent about £9,000 on [the] equipment.
“This has provided microphones, a presentation screen, two cameras, cabling, and a sound deck.
“We are also broadcasting through Teams Live, a free option within our existing Microsoft package.
“The council will always look to find cost-effective solutions to improve access to local democracy and provide transparency in our public meetings.”
Several other Nottinghamshire councils have technology in place across their debating chambers so meetings can be live-streamed, a process which accelerated during the Covid-19 pandemic.
Broxtowe, Gedling, Newark and Sherwood, Nottinghamshire and Rushcliffe councils all have technology in place.
Only Ashfield District Council, Bassetlaw District Council and Nottingham City Council do not live-stream their meetings online.
The Mansfield Council spending comes almost a year after Conservative-led Nottinghamshire County Council unveiled its own new technology.
The video conferencing technology was rolled out at County Hall last November at a cost of £335,000.
The spending involved large, mounted wall displays to allow officers to attend meetings virtually.
Tracking cameras were also installed to focus on councillors when they speak.
Opposition councillors described the investment at the time as an “awful lot of money”.
The authority said it would help to improve the quality of its broadcasts after old, temporary equipment became not “fit for purpose”.
The kit was funded through a Covid funding grant, papers said at the time, and also included some new technology in County Hall’s Rufford Suite.
However, the council was forced to call in IT experts in February when the technology stopped working during the annual budget-setting meeting.
This came at “no extra cost” to the authority but led to opposition leaders describing it as “farcical”.
