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16
May
Town council meetings to be livestreamed in Harrogate
Harrogate Town Council is to spend almost £6,000 on livestreaming its meetings.
The move will enable more residents, including people with disabilities who are unable to attend or hear meetings, to follow the council’s activities.
Anyone can go to the monthly full council meetings, as well as separate committee meetings, but currently they must attend in person.
Most meetings are held at the Civic Centre, just off King’s Road, and rarely attract more than one or two members of the public.
The Civic Centre has facilities for online broadcasting but because the building is owned by North Yorkshire Council the town council would have to pay to use them.
The Liberal Democrat-controlled council therefore agreed on Wednesday (May 13) to spend £5,754 on buying their own facilities and on training to use them.
The equipment will cost £3,599 and be supplied by Buckinghamshire firm Cloudy IT.
Councillor Mark Warr, vice-chair of the finance and general purposes committee, said the technology would include subtitles and therefore improve inclusivity.
Cllr Josie Caven, who represents Kingsley and is deaf, has helped to guide the process.
The technology can be moved from venue to venue, which Cllr Chris Aldred, who represents High Harrogate, said would help fulfil the council’s pledge to hold meetings at locations around the town, such as Starbeck and Bilton.
Councillors on the finance and general purposes committee voted unanimously to spend money on the scheme.
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