Tories: New council webcasting system a ‘waste of money’

Earlier this week, Arun’s Lib Dem cabinet agreed to a budget estimate to replace the current system for broadcasting meetings online.

A ‘reliable, fully integrated, fit-for-purpose, and future proof webcasting presentation and conference system’ is projected to cost £65,000 with £21,000 for annual running costs.

Other options discounted were also replacing the portable wireless microphone system or spending even more so meetings held in the committee rooms could also be webcast and not just those in the main council chamber.

However Matt Stanley, cabinet member for technical services, said he was mindful of the current financial situation ‘strained even further by Covid’.

Conservative councillors asked why the council could not use Zoom, which has the ability to broadcast directly to social media, when they returned to having meetings back at the Civic Centre.

Officers stated that it would be some time before councillors started attending meetings in person again, but once they did it was important to have the necessary equipment to be able to webcast them.

Several cabinet members felt residents had enjoyed being able to watch the virtual meetings and continuing this online access was important.

Deputy leader Francis Oppler felt the new equipment would make engagement with the public much more likely.

He pointed out the current system, costing in excess of £60,000 around six to seven years ago, had ‘hardly ever been used’ as the previous administration ‘did not want to engage the public in the way we have been embracing’.

He added: “This is an investment for the future.”

Leader James Walsh pointed out this was a budget provision and not an authority to spend.

After the meeting, the Conservatives labelled the move a waste of taxpayers’ money given the ‘black hole’ in the council’s finances.

Shaun Gunner, Conservative group leader, said: “Because of a decision vacuum and arguments within the administration, Arun has real financial problems building which need to be addressed.”

He suggested it was easy for the Lib Dems to spend ‘but much harder to try and save money’.

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