Guidelines for broadcasting or using Social Media at Council meetings.

The right to record, film and to broadcast meetings of the Council, Committees and Sub Committees is established following the Local Government Audit and Accountability Act 2014. This is in addition to the rights of the press  and public to attend such meetings.

1. The Council will make the Council chamber available to the public 15 minutes before and after meetings for the setting up and removal of any filming equipment.
2. Members of the public are permitted to film or record meetings to which they are permitted access, in a non-disruptive manner and only from public areas.
3. Meetings or parts of meetings from which the press and public are excluded may not be filmed or recorded.
4. The use of digital and social media recording tools, for example Twitter, blogging or audio recording will
   be allowed as long as it is carried out in a non-disruptive manner.
5. Councillors who choose to use social media during Council meetings must refrain from disrupting other
   Councillors and Council debate.
6. Councillors who choose to record, film or broadcast meetings including the use of social media are reminded of their responsibilities under the Council’s Code of Conduct including the confidentiality requirements.
7. While those attending meetings are deemed to have consented to the filming, recording or broadcasting of
   meetings, those exercising the rights to film, record and broadcast must respect the rights of other people
   attending under the Data Protection Act 1998.
8. The Chairman of the meeting, or any such Council representative as designated by the Chairman, has the
   authority to stop a meeting and take appropriate action if any person contravenes these principles or is
   deemed to be recording in a disruptive manner.
9. Any person or organisation choosing to film, record or broadcast any meeting of the Council is responsible
   for any claims or other liability resulting from them so doing and by choosing to film, record or broadcast
   proceedings they accept that they are required to indemnify the Council, its members and officers in relation
   to any such claims or liabilities.
10. The Council asks those recording proceedings not to edit the film or recording in a way that could lead to
    misinterpretation of the proceedings, or infringe the core values of the This includes refraining from
    editing an image or views expressed in a way that may ridicule, or show lack of respect towards those being
    filmed or recorded.