A senior Dundee councillor has said he fears plans to broadcast committee meetings online have been “kicked into the long grass”.
West End councillor Fraser Macpherson said officers have advised him broadcasting meeting would require staff and a complete reconfiguration of the council chamber.
The Liberal Democrat Group leader said: “There is no doubt the can has been firmly kicked down the road.”
Last week Dundee-based Labour MSP Jenny Marra called on the local authority to broadcast its meetings online to promote “transparency and open government”.
Council leader John Alexander said his SNP administration is committed to recording and broadcasting meetings but warned the council would need to be mindful of the “cost and practicalities” of doing so.”
Mr Macpherson said the Liberal Democrats also stated their support for broadcasting meetings in their last local election manifesto but added he is not confident it will happen soon.
He said: “Dundee Liberal Democrats made clear we want to see web-casting of the major council committees and I have been pursuing this with senior council officers.
“The omens, however, are not promising, judging by recent feedback I have received from officers. There really is no progress some two years after the last election.”
Mr Macpherson said the council’s head of democratic and legal services Roger Mennie told him broadcasting meetings would require reconfiguration of the council chamber, including new furniture, staff and equipment for webcasting.
He also told Mr Macpherson the cost implications means officers are not in a position to put forward a proposal to elected members although the matter “remains under active consideration”.
Mr Macpherson said: “I have said to officers that I rather fear this is being kicked well into the long grass.
“Although I appreciate the challenging financial situation, it would be disappointing that something members across the chamber appeared supportive of simply does not happen.
“The SNP administration made a promise to do this and it should deliver on that promise.”
Committee meetings in Dundee are open to the public and agendas are published online before each meeting.
