Teignmouth Town Council launches live streaming of its meetings

Teignmouth Town Council has launched a live streaming programme, allowing its meetings to be watched as they happen on You Tube.

The first session before a camera took place recently when the Full Council met at Bitton House. 

Present for the occasion was resident Edd Winsborrow who at the earlier October full council meeting had handed in a petition calling for live streaming. 

Addressing the council before the start of formal proceedings, he said: ‘It’s good to see it’s already happening.’ 

‘He added: ‘This is absolutely brilliant.’ 

Mayor Cllr Cate Williams thanked Mr Winsborrow for organising the petition saying: ‘It’s always good when members of the community take an active role.’ 

She went on to say: ‘We should be transparent, we should be open.’ 

Cllr Williams told the meeting that, technically, Mr Winsborrow’s petition failed to accord with Town Council’s current policy as not only did it incorporate names from outside of the Teignmouth area, which could not be included in the number count, it failed to include the required full names, addresses and signatures.  She conceded, however, that his actions had been useful by giving the council ‘a poke to get things rolling’ and as the streaming exercise was already a ‘live’ project then it should be addressed at the meeting.

Cllr Mike Jackman was also appreciative of Mr Winsborrow’s efforts, offering his formal thanks via the meeting, a gesture which earned Mr Winsborrow a round of applause. 

The council later agreed to amend its new live streaming policy by extending the time recordings would be kept from a suggested three months to a maximum of 12 months, having heard that similar arrangements were in place at Teignbridge District Council and Devon County Council. 

Cllr Mike Jackman said: ‘It would be good for the public to have access to see what was said.