Merger-threatened Mosman Council spends $32,600 on webcasting, recording meetings

MOSMAN Council will start webcasting and recording meetings at a cost of at least $32,600, although forced mergers loom. It received only one public submission in support of the plan.

Mosman Council deputy mayor Roy Bendall said webcasting monthly council meetings was a way of engaging with the community in better ways. Picture: Annika Enderborg

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MOSMAN Council has resolved to spend more than $30,000 to webcast its monthly meetings, despite being under threat of a forced merger.

The council expects to start webcasting at its October meeting next week.

Councillors unanimously voted this month to spend at least $32,600 on webcasting, recording and archiving council meetings.

Council’s code of meeting practice was amended to reflect the initiative.

The initial capital cost is $20,000 plus $12,600 in recurrent costs this financial year.

Ongoing recurrent expenditure after 2016-17 will be $15,120 per annum fixed for four years.

Public consultation on the proposal attracted one submission in support.

Councillor Peter White said he cannot believe webcasting did not happen four years ago.

Deputy mayor Roy Bendall raised the webcasting idea at the council meeting in July.

He told councillors it was time to better actively engage with the community.

“Technology has changed and is a lot cheaper now,” he said.

Councillor Peter White said he could not believe that webcasting did not happen four years ago and argued for records to be kept for four years.

North Sydney Council, which has webcast its meetings since late September 2015, attracts an average of 230 views a month.

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