Audio of closed-door meetings by London city councillors will be recorded in the very near future.
City Council voted 8 to 4 in support of councillor Mo Salih’s motion to implement in-camera recordings, knocking back a request to refer the idea to staff for more information.
Councilors Anna Hopkins, Bill Armstrong, Harold Usher and Paul Hubert opposed the motion.
“What we are saying still can come out through the minutes, or whether some of the other conversations that are being captured through some of the other methods that can be produced in court anyway, this way is just a little bit more convenient,” said Salih.
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There were concerns raised about the recordings being accessible by the courts in the case of legal proceedings, specifically in regards to conversations that include personnel issues or labour relations.
“Sometimes I am concerned about the frankness sometimes that I hear in camera,” said councillor Phil Squire, who supported the motion.
“I think sometimes people view in camera as an opportunity to air out some grievances that I don’t think should be aired out. I think if you’ve got something to say, you should be comfortable saying it here, in-camera, and if it’s aired in a judicial hearing, so be it.”
Mayor Matt Brown also supported the motion, saying recordings will show no rules are being broken during closed-door meetings.
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Councillor Hopkins said she doesn’t see how recording in camera sessions will make council more transparent.
“I’m still not convinced and I’d like to have that information, not only for myself but for the public,” said Hopkins.
“I do not like using the word ‘we’re transparent’ and just saying the word, I want to feel it.”
City staff says recordings should be up and running in about a month.
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