Cameras for public viewing of democracy at Lagan Valley Island have been shut down for three years
The £64m Dundonald Ice Bowl redevelopment is a “priority” over a council transparency policy, the CEO has said.
Lisburn and Castlereagh City Council (LCCC) councillors approved a motion to bring back public online viewing to the chamber back in February after cameras were shut down at Lagan Valley Island three years ago.
However, despite the democratic decision made some eight months ago, the council chief executive has told elected members he has another “priority”.
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Lisburn North independent councillor, Gary Hynds said: “In regards to a motion on transparency approved earlier this year, can I ask is there any advance on a policy being brought before this chamber?
“We were told in this very chamber in May that the policy on transparency was very close
“For the public, transparency of decisions made in this chamber is very important.”
LCCC had previously pulled the plug on live broadcasts in 2022, with the local authority claiming it was in the interest of “increased transparency”.
Currently minutes and audio of committees are put on the LCCC website only after they have been ratified at full council, which at times can be a number of weeks later. The full council meeting is streamed live.
Other Northern Ireland councils such as Belfast City Council broadcast meetings live and archive on its website for the public to watch within two working days.
Council CEO David Burns replied: “The priority for me at this stage is Dundonald Ice Bowl.
“There were corporate officers working on this, but they have since left the council.
“It will be for the corporate directorate to finalise a policy, then we can have a chat.”
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