Council Meeting Webcasting Fails – Recording Will Be Online Later
Webcasting problems meant that members of the public could not watch the Executive Board meeting live today, however a record did take place.
Wrexham Council released the following statement after many raised the issue on social media. Some more cynical observed that it had occurred at a higher profile meeting than usual, and questioned transparency – however as one Council insider observed at the meeting break, ‘does that mean to say all Council meetings before webcasting were not transparent?’
“We are currently unable to webcast live due to technical difficulties and apologise for any inconvenience.
“Our providers have said that they have discovered an issue with the webcasting software which has affected dual language clients. They have now developed a fix which they will be installing today, and we are hopeful that it does not occur again.”
“They have advised us that although the meeting is not able to be broadcast live, the meeting is being recorded and they will be able to publish for viewing on the Council’s website when the meeting finishes.”
Some of our live tweets from the meeting are below…
Limited space in the Executive Board 47 seats and blocked off areas for Cllrs in public gallery – a first! pic.twitter.com/OrJdlEwqzn
— Wrexham.com (@wrexham) December 13, 2016
Exec Board underway, packed public gallery (no police) but loads of space in reserved space. 18 non-exec board Councillor here. 27 total?
— Wrexham.com (@wrexham) December 13, 2016
Councillor numbers up as Malcolm King is now here, no questions from him at start to Chair, which is shame as that's WCBC's Chisora v Whyte
— Wrexham.com (@wrexham) December 13, 2016
A note is passed to Legal Officer, then to Chief Executive & then to the Leader of the Council who seems unimpressed with its contents!
— Wrexham.com (@wrexham) December 13, 2016
Mystery note read out – meeting told website is not publishing live we are getting a recording that can be watched later. 'Technical hitch'.
— Wrexham.com (@wrexham) December 13, 2016
Clr Hugh Jones presents Plas Madoc report, saying will address 'misapprehensions that have arisen'.Mainly looking/speaking to public gallery
— Wrexham.com (@wrexham) December 13, 2016
Cllr H Jones presents Council reasoning for recommendation inc. financial queries, says condition of centre at start was known ‘warts & all'
— Wrexham.com (@wrexham) December 13, 2016
Cllr H Jones says £13k year 1 deficit was ' absolutely outstanding result ' – that is presumably compared to the 400k loss when under WCBC
— Wrexham.com (@wrexham) December 13, 2016
Clr Jones give context of recommendation citing climate of cuts 'expenditure has to be put in the perspective that the council finds itself'
— Wrexham.com (@wrexham) December 13, 2016
**U-TURN / BREAKING NEWS KLAXON** Cllr Hugh Jones announces a NEW recommendation to give the funding Plas Madoc requires/asking for.
— Wrexham.com (@wrexham) December 13, 2016
Council Leader Pritchard nodding along to Cllr Jones' announcement. Will be dealt with 'urgently' & 'against advice of finance'.
— Wrexham.com (@wrexham) December 13, 2016
Big ream of pre-printed recommendations now being handed out to Councillors in the room. iPad debate later, could have emailed that… 😇
— Wrexham.com (@wrexham) December 13, 2016
Clr Jones wraps up presentation, appears to bat things over to Welsh Gov to challenge them to make good on their £500k pledge too.
— Wrexham.com (@wrexham) December 13, 2016
Public Gallery reaction muted to the u-turn news, some mutterings as various Councillors tell their historical Plas Madoc anecdotes.
— Wrexham.com (@wrexham) December 13, 2016
Cllr Derek Wright welcomes move, but asks why it could not be done sooner. Asks about denial of public question by Clr Pritchard.
— Wrexham.com (@wrexham) December 13, 2016
Clr Wright is first to challenge the actual process of reports publication, times and the questioning deadlines & suggests changing it.
— Wrexham.com (@wrexham) December 13, 2016
. @mike_corris nearest councillors to us have iPads out *and* the inch thick agenda packs – with added A4 sheet of the new recommendation
— Wrexham.com (@wrexham) December 13, 2016
Clr Pritchard columbos Clr Wright with one more thing, pointing out statutory timescale was met, 'if you dont have order you have anarchy'.
— Wrexham.com (@wrexham) December 13, 2016
Cllr Blackwell calls it a 'marvellous Christmas present' Cllr Hugh Jones replies 'I dont think anyone has called me Father Christmas.'
— Wrexham.com (@wrexham) December 13, 2016
Clr Malcolm King spun round addressing public gallery, says clue to decision 'is in something happening next May' – the elections.
— Wrexham.com (@wrexham) December 13, 2016
Exec Board member talked catchment of Plas Madoc in terms of '9 wards with 28,000 people'. Aside from elections/Cllrs who thinks in Wards?
— Wrexham.com (@wrexham) December 13, 2016
Clr King refers to 'sudden rash of support' & elections… Clr Pritchard says 'Malcolm' several times & tells him to turn off mic to 'ooohs'
— Wrexham.com (@wrexham) December 13, 2016
Clr King says 'but it is about politics' & 'Council is embarrassed by success of PM' Clr Pritchard shakes head, takes glasses off and sighs
— Wrexham.com (@wrexham) December 13, 2016
Clr King says Plas Madoc issue made Clr Pritchard Leader 'due to Labour split', in long 'question' on if therefore is an interest to declare
— Wrexham.com (@wrexham) December 13, 2016
Phony election war has ended, open attack/defences in Guildhall now about past political decisions. Getting quite narky now in the chamber.
— Wrexham.com (@wrexham) December 13, 2016
Clr Pritchard invites Councillors to conduct themselves in decent way, Clr King takes faux offence as he walks away from table grinning!
— Wrexham.com (@wrexham) December 13, 2016
Clr David Bithell reignites beef with Clr King, 'I remember who voted to close' saying 'bit rich coming here today making political noises'
— Wrexham.com (@wrexham) December 13, 2016
Formal vote taking place on the Plas Madoc funding – passed by Executive Board present unanimously.
— Wrexham.com (@wrexham) December 13, 2016
Groves now up – background on this https://t.co/ts3r5qxM1Y might pave way for a further Council legal challenge to the listing decision
— Wrexham.com (@wrexham) December 13, 2016
Clr Jenkins says Groves is 'farce' & 'hokey cokey' in terms of Welsh Gov decisions, welcomes its Part 1 and asks about costs of legal action
— Wrexham.com (@wrexham) December 13, 2016
Clr King asking Groves Q 'I will try & be well behaved,but might fail' compares old buildings of Harrow & Eton schools (…and Victoria etc)
— Wrexham.com (@wrexham) December 13, 2016
Clr King asks if Clr Pritchard is 'confused if he *is* the council'… Chair steps in and says 'come on, you know you are going too far'.
— Wrexham.com (@wrexham) December 13, 2016
Clr Pritchard calls point of order, 'pushing code of conduct of elected members to the brink' asks Chair 'stop personal attacks against me'
— Wrexham.com (@wrexham) December 13, 2016
Clr Bailey almost gets Domestos & Asbestos mixed up, enquiries if course of action will mean no future Call In possible by other councillors
— Wrexham.com (@wrexham) December 13, 2016
Point of order raised by Clr Dana Davies, points out Clr Pritchard said 'this will be settled in a court of law' – says preempted decision.
— Wrexham.com (@wrexham) December 13, 2016
Clr Pritchard 'you have come here to lets say spoil the party', says will depend on legal advice the course of action the Council will take.
— Wrexham.com (@wrexham) December 13, 2016
Clr Davies continues asking point of order to be debated 'he has stated it will be decided in court' adding 'it is predetermined'.
— Wrexham.com (@wrexham) December 13, 2016
Legal Officer asked opinion, says he agrees with the Leader of Council. Clr Davies says 'it is predetermined which ever way you scratch it'.
— Wrexham.com (@wrexham) December 13, 2016
Clr Bailey accuses Leader of 'secret meetings', Clr Pritchard invites evidence 'you are telling lies I have not had any secret meetings'.
— Wrexham.com (@wrexham) December 13, 2016
Cllr Bailey says "will change that comment to 'meetings that 42 other councillors know nothing about' ", that is allowed by the Chair.
— Wrexham.com (@wrexham) December 13, 2016
Clr Brian Cameron very angry suggests if £/effort made on legal process would be better used to attract grant funding to use Groves building
— Wrexham.com (@wrexham) December 13, 2016
Clr Pritchard assures Councillors he will relay information to Cllrs 'as and when I get it' over the Groves, reiterates wants 2 new schools.
— Wrexham.com (@wrexham) December 13, 2016
'Hogwash', 'BS' & 'hes changed his tune' loudly shouted when Cllr Phil Wynn talking about local 'face saving' for Lab Welsh Gov on Groves
— Wrexham.com (@wrexham) December 13, 2016
Cllr Wynn says people watching webcast will recognise 'mud flinging' when they watch the debate. Vote passed, so decision has been delegated
— Wrexham.com (@wrexham) December 13, 2016
At this point there was a recess, so we nipped out to King Street Coffee
Can tell it is a big meeting when the cameras turn up – on a recess now til 1.20 when meeting continues pic.twitter.com/Lyro9cN3xV
— Wrexham.com (@wrexham) December 13, 2016
Lunch. pic.twitter.com/YZhgAWOOhS
— Wrexham.com (@wrexham) December 13, 2016
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