Town Council ditches webcast meetings

FRODSHAM Town Council has decided to end webcasting of its monthly meetings.
Councillors decided to ditch filming the meetings after hearing they did not represent value for money.
No details were given of exactly how many people viewed the webcasts – but it was revealed that fewer than 30 per cent of those that did view watched for more than one minute. There was also no guarantee that the viewer was a Frodsham resident.
The council is to replace the webcasts by making audio recordings of all council and committee meetings which will be available on the council website. Digital audio equipment costing £695, plus VAT will be purchased and will be used from the start of the new council year in May.
Councillors will be asked to identify themselves when they speak.
Frodsham became the first town or parish council in Cheshire West – possibly the country – to webcast its meetings in December 2013.  It is still the only town or parish council in Cheshire West to do so.
Initially, members were pleased with the reported viewing figures but it is understood they have declined. A number of meetings were not webcast because of last minute technical faults.  As recently as January a meeting was delayed by 25 minutes because of problems with the webcast equipment.
Cheshire West and Chester Council continue to webcast meetings and some meetings of the Castle Park Trust are webcast informally by Trust chairman Cllr Andrew Dawson.
Picture shows Frodsham’s first-ever webcast meeting, at Frodsham Community Centre, in December 2013.