Do you tune in and watch council TV? Councillors to discuss future funding for service

The latest ‘Council TV’ viewing figures have been released, showing that meetings where certain exchanges are highlighted by Wrexham.com get the bigger numbers.

The Democratic Services Committee will this week examine viewing figures and are asked to ‘consider whether to continue webcasting council meetings and recommend accordingly to Council (if required) to enable a procurement exercise to be undertaken during 2019 and to determine any funding requirements’.

The recommendation is another slip back to officer led recommendations, as after a scrutiny shambles in 2017 things appeared to consistently change so recommendations read: “That Members of the Committee formulate their conclusions and recommendations based on the information in the report and the discussion at the meeting” and made councillors do the work themselves.

A total of 623 people ‘tuned in’ to watch the March 3rd planning committee, which saw councillors debate plans to develop the secure unit in Gwersyllt. At the meeting a Councillor referred to the low secure unit plan noting: “There is a railway line. Right by the side of it”. We covered the comments with a link to the webcast.

Since the meeting mental health training with councillors has been undertaken.

The second most watched meeting of the past six months included a furious exchange of words between Council Leader Mark Pritchard and Plaid Cymru Group Leader Marc Jones over proposals to mark the RAF centenary with civic honour – the episode had 526 viewers (exchange top picture).

Webcams have been rolled out into scrutiny meetings however the uptake in views seems slow, with just 19 people watching a Lifelong Learning Scrutiny Committee in February this year and another 19 watching the Employment, Business and Investment Scrutiny Committee in January.

The report before councillors summaries the figures: “The data highlights the number of actual viewers (reach) who have watched a webcast.

“It should be noted that viewing by Council Officers is also captured in the data and it is not possible to produce separate figures for officers’/public viewings.

“An increased level of viewers is likely to reflect greater public interest in the items of business transacted, similar to the varying levels of public attendance in the Council Chamber gallery, prior to the introduction of webcasting.”

The meeting kick offs and councillor clangers are tactfully avoided in the explanations of the highest viewership: “Historically the items which have attracted the most viewers include scrutiny of the Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board by the Safeguarding, Communities & Wellbeing Scrutiny Committee, Budget Consultation and recommendations regarding the Revenue Budget by the Executive Board, Revenue Budget and Council Tax setting by the Council and site specific applications considered by the Planning Committee.”

The current webcasting contract ends in January 2020 and councillors need to decide whether they wish to continue broadcasting meetings beyond that date and on what basis. This could prove tricky as the concept of webcasting was given some start up cash from Welsh Government, and then funded by the council however only for the period of the existing contract.

The report notes” “Any increase in the current level of service/cost will require budget to be identified/compensating savings to be made”. However previously the Leader of the Council Mark Pritchard said the committee should ‘challenge him’ to find the cash to fund the wider rolling out and renewal of any webcasting of the council.

Leaked Future TV Listings
Back in 2014 we celebrated the launch of ‘Council TV’ by publishing the listings of the programmes on WCBC 1 that day. By enormous coincidence we have seen an email containing future Council TV listings ideas for an unspecified date, however we cannot vouch for its accuracy…

CRIMEWATCH ROADSHOW
North Wales Police are without a permanent town centre base so are out and about in various cafes.

FLOG IT!
A live look at the latest Pugh Auctions to see what local authorities are selling off across the UK.

BARGAIN HUNT
The teams scour council departments looking for savings as they expect another poor final settlement.

CASH IN THE ATTIC
As Chief Exec says there is no cash in the bank, Officers look higher up.

DOCTORS
Limited availability in some areas.

JUDGE RINDER
Cllr Bithell judges on an issue with the bins

WHO WANTS TO BE A MILLIONAIRE
Cllr Jenkins hosts again, how much does he want council tax to rise? A 5.5% B 6.5% C 9.5% or D 12%.

GAME OF JONES
Special edition of hit series, feat. all six Jones’s on Wrexham Council

LOST IN TRANSLATION
Film 1hr 45mins. Council officers face an epic fight to successfully translate anything correctly into Welsh as ‘the matrix’ goes missing.

BRIGHT LIGHTS, BIG CITY
In this adaptation of Jay McInerney’s novel, Ian Bancroft (Michael J. Fox) moves from small-town Flintshire to Wrexham City.

DIY SOS
Documentary as new arts and cultural centre opens, will it be completed on budget and on time?

NIGHTCOPS
(repeat) Brook St, Wrexham 2002.

THE GREEN GREEN GRASS
Only Fools and Horses spin off, limited episodes as soon to be replaced with a housing development approved by Planning Inspector from Cardiff.

UFC 236 PRESS CONFERENCE LIVE
Conor Mcgregor asks ‘who is that guy?’ to various councillors with lower attendance records.

THE LOWEDOWN
Magazine programme, hosted by Geoff and Joan.

POINTS OF VIEW
Thirty minutes of Facebook users asking why Cats Protection are spending cash on cats rather than homeless veterans.

I, DAVID BITHELL
Film.

PRESS GANG
Kids set up news website thing, accidentally becomes only ones left in town.

MALCOLM IN THE MIDDLE
Cllr King has Cllr Pritchard to his right, but to his left Cllr Davies tries to keep a lid on his jibes…

WALLICE AND GROMIT
Documentary following Cllr Wallice tackling dog mess in Borras.

DRAGONS DEN
(repeat) Executive Board decide not to fund Citizens Advice service, however new Christmas Lights and town centre paving ideas get cash.

RUNNING WILD WITH BEAR GRYLLS
ep. 22 – Bear goes potholing on the Tesco Roundabout and survives for a week underground

PFI-NAL DESTINATION
Horror film. Lots of extra cash is needed, but which PFI deal will really wipe the budget out?

ROCKY
Italian-American fighter is trained by Cllr Adrienne Jeorrett as he takes on Apollo Creed.

STRIKE IT LUCKY
Councillors get another pay rise from the IRPW

CLOSE
Some services, next year, probably.