Nottinghamshire Council Spending Concerns over Virtual Meetings

Council members raise concerns over plans to spend £437K on virtual meetings technology.

01:56 26 January 2022

Some councillors have raised concerns over Nottinghamshire Council's plan to spend £437,000 to improve the quality of virtual meetings from the council chamber.

 

According to the documents, the council's current equipment is outdated and unsuitable to the council's current needs. It proposes to spend on new equipment, including tracking cameras and wall displays to allow officers to attend meetings virtually. 

 

Six councillors voted for the plans, two against and three abstained during the meeting on January 25. 

 

Coun Keith Girling, council economic development and asset management committee chairman, “The quality and standard of the live streaming is not sufficient at the minute to see and hear councillors debating.

 

“We have saved more than £1 million on expenses claims during the pandemic for travel.

 

“It’s important, especially when you are looking at social services and adult social care, that the quality of those conversations can be understood and heard.”

 

However, Coun David Shaw said: “This is a lot of money.

 

“I am having to support young people in my division to feed them.

 

“I cannot justify spending this on internet connection.”