Watford Borough Council Virtual Meeting Tech Trouble

Technical difficulties shut out press and public during Watford Borough Council's virtual meeting.

04:48 26 May 2020

Watford Borough Council's virtual meeting experienced technical difficulties causing the live YouTube stream to go down and prevent the press and public from watching online. Councillors pushed through with the meeting behind closed doors and decided on two planning applications. They rejected a scheme for 57 flats in Monmouth Road but approved the 72 flats in St Albans Road near Asda. 

 

Opposition group leader Councillor Nigel Bell said that the decision to continue the meeting while the press and public were not able to watch is "unconstitutional". His complaint has caused the council to update its virtual procedure rules. 

 

The amended rule now states "any member of the public attending remotely should also be able to hear the debate." 

 

"Therefore in the event, that, for any reason, connectivity is lost with the YouTube live streaming, the officer responsible for monitoring the live streaming will immediately notify the chair who will adjourn the meeting until such time as the YouTube live stream has been restored. 

 

"In the event that it cannot be restored within ten minutes of the start of the adjournment, the chair will adjourn the meeting to another date and time."