Policies

Policy Adopted on 23rd Feb 2023

The right to record, film and to broadcast meetings of the council, committees and sub committees has been established following the creation of the Local Government Audit and Accountability Act 2014, and the subsequent introduction of the Openness of Local Government Bodies Regulations 2014 on 6 August 2014.

[Currently Stubton Parish Council are awaiting further guidance and interpretation by the National Association of Local Councils and the Lincolnshire Association of Local Councils, therefore this draft policy may be subject to further amendments.]

•   This is in addition to the rights of the press and public to attend all such meetings.
•   Filming may only start when the formal council meeting is declared open, and must stop when the formal meeting is closed. The public/ open forum does not form part of the formal parish council meeting and therefore may only be filmed with the permission of those attending and speaking during this period. The public/open forum is seen as best practice but is not legally part of the meeting. The agenda will always make this clear. No motions can be passed in the public/open forum and it is there to inform the agenda of the following meeting by residents raising issues of concern. As such it can be viewed as a conversation between individuals. According to the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000 (RIPA) recording conversations without consent in the UK is legal provided the recording is done for personal use. However, problems arise when such recordings are shared with others, without the consent of the participants of the conversation. It is an offence to sell recorded conversations to third parties or make such conversations public without the participant’s consent in the conversation.
•   Meetings or parts of meetings from which the press and public are excluded by reason of the confidential business to be transacted may not be filmed or recorded.
•   Members of the public may film or record meetings to which they are permitted access, providing this is done in a non-disruptive manner.
•   Commentary to any recording or filming may not be added whilst a meeting is in progress.
•   The council will make reasonable provision of an area from which filming and recording may take place, and those wishing to film or record are requested to make use of that area. It would be helpful if anyone wishing to film or record the meeting could contact the Clerk in advance, to ensure that facilities are adequate for their needs.
•   Any filming of the meeting should show all councillors attending and make clear how they are voting or agreeing with motions to ensure accuracy, openness and transparency.
•   Whilst those attending meetings are deemed to have consented to the filming, recording or broadcasting of meetings, those exercising the rights to film, record and broadcast must respect the rights of other people attending. 
•   In line with national legislation, the reporting, filming, photographing and audio recording must only relate to the public meeting itself and must not extend to anybody seated in the public section who does not form part of the proceedings. Filming, photographing or audio recording a member of the public without their prior express permission is not permitted under the Data Protection Act 1998.
•   In particular, those wishing to film or record are asked to focus on council proceedings and not on those members of the public in attendance.  Vulnerable adults and minors should not be filmed or recorded.
•   Any person or organisation choosing to film, record or broadcast any meeting of the Council or a committee is responsible for any claims or other liability arising from them so doing.
•   The Council asks those recording proceedings not to edit the film or recording in a way that could lead to misinterpretation of the proceedings or infringe the core values of the Council.  This includes refraining from editing an image or views expressed in a way that may ridicule or show lack of respect towards those being filmed or recorded.
•   The Chairman of the meeting has the authority to stop a meeting and recommend that the Council takes appropriate action if any person contravenes these principles or is deemed to be recording in a disruptive manner.
•   The Council will display its requirements as to filming, recording and broadcasting at its meeting venues, and those undertaking such activities will be deemed to have accepted them whether they have read them or not. Should anyone undertaking these activities contravene these requirements then they will be banned from filming all aspects of the meeting forthwith, and further may be banned from council meetings.
•   The Council may itself photograph, film, record or broadcast its meetings for clarity and can retain, use or dispose of such material in accordance with its retention and disposal policies.
•   The formal record of any meeting will be the approved minutes taken by the Clerk to the Parish Council and approved by a vote of its members. These can be found on the Parish Council’s website at: https://stubton.parish.lincolnshire.gov.uk/