Webcasting

Finally Newcastle Council will move into the 21st Century.

The following Motion that I submitted was adopted by Council...

NOTICE OF MOTION: WEBCASTING OF COUNCIL MEETINGS

COUNCILLOR: M OSBORNE

MOTION

That Newcastle Council
(i) Install the appropriate infrastructure to allow for the broadcasting of meetings via the internet.
(ii) Allocate the necessary funds in the December 2011 Quarterly review for the installation of the equipment
(iii) Allocate the necessary funds in Council’s Management Plan for ongoing costs

BACKGROUND

Newcastle Council has adopted The Newcastle Community Strategic Plan which reflects the community’s vision for the city and is a guide for action by Council.

One of the seven strategic directions outlined in the Strategic Plan is Open and Collaborative Leadership.

Council’s vision in this area is that we will have a strong local democracy with an actively engaged community and effective partnerships.

Through the development of the Council’s Strategic Plan, the community clearly told Council that they wanted decision-making in our City based on collaborative, transparent and accountable leadership and that this must be transparent, open, inclusive, accountable, fair and democratic. (see http://www.newcastle.nsw.gov.au/about_newcastle/Newcastle2030/our_strategic_directions/open_and_collaborative_leadership)

Novocastrians want to be an informed and empowered community with the opportunity to make both individual and broader choices towards being a resilient, adaptable and civil society.

This motion fits neatly into this strategic direction.

A range of Councils across the state are already broadcasting their meetings over the internet. These include:
• Shellharbour City Council
• City of Botany Bay
• Lane Cove Council
• Warringah Council
• Port Macquarie-Hastings Council

In addition, Port Stephens recently resolved to webcast their meetings for an estimated upfront equipment cost of less than $20,000 and an ongoing cost of less than $10,000 per year.