REDLAND City Council has banned members of the public gallery from taping and filming during council meetings.
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However, the mayor can grant members of the public permission to record and film at her discretion.
Council will tape-record meetings and publish the video on its website “at the earliest opportunity after the meeting”.
It will control the right to edit recordings and any footage, which may not be available under the Right To Information Act, depending on whether the material was protected under the Privacy Act.
Acting chief executive Nick Clarke said next week’s budget delivery would be video recorded but new equipment, costing “a small outlay” would not be in place.
Only councillors Paul Bishop (Div 10) and Craig Ogilvie (Div 2) voted against the move.
Cr Bishop said it was ironical council was calling for greater community inclusion and yet banning the public from recording meetings.
He failed in changing “put” motion procedures so at least four speakers have to address the meeting before debate can be gagged.
It was decided “some” debate must be had before “put” motions were placed.
Cr Ogilvie said he did not believe the standing orders guaranteed a mayor would remain an independent chairperson.
But Mayor Karen Williams said the rules governing the chairmanship were state legislation and could not be altered by standing orders.
“Standing orders have always said that on the floor of chambers, councillors should be interrupting other councillors speaking and should also be speaking to an item,” she said.
“If you don’t have someone governing and administering those particular issues you have a free for all with people speaking across chambers.”
Cr Mark Edwards said video recording could be used for a range of other council activities and Cr Julie Talty said media and members of the public could still take photos if they got prior permission.
Thirty-two changes were made on Wednesday when council updated the rules it uses to govern its meetings, known as standing orders.
Other major changes included ensuring councillors had adequate time to read information and to require “some” debate before “put” motions were in place.
Mayoral minutes must also be distributed to all councillors before meetings and meeting chairmen have the right to ask members of the public to leave.
Council has also banned the public form taking signs and placards into meetings as they may be deemed dangerous.
The names of councillors and the way they voted will be recorded against each agenda item in minutes.
Other major changes included ensuring councillors had adequate time to read agendas and all items.
+ Mr Clarke told the meeting Brisbane City Council had no procedure in place to allow the public to film in meetings.
+ Gold Coast live streamed its meetings but was silent on allowing the gallery to film.
+ Logan council allowed no activity without a council resolution
+Sunshine Coast and Ipswich do not permit filming without a decision from the chairperson
+Toowoomba won't allow filming without written consent from the council
