Written Statement: Extending the duty to broadcast meetings placed on principal councils; and to explore applying the duty to National Park Authorities (“NPAs”) and Fire and Rescue Authorities (“FRAs”)

Meetings of principal councils, FRAs and NPAs have the potential to reach and engage a wide audience from the local community and further afield. These meetings provide new ways to support and serve local communities with strong emphasis on the principles of democracy, transparency and accountability to the citizens of Wales. They also provide opportunities to share information, explore matters which effect individual’s daily lives and increase awareness of local issues. 

Section 46(1) and (2)(a) of the Local Government and Elections (Wales) Act 2021 places a duty on principal councils to put in place arrangements for the broadcast of full council meetings so that members of the public who are unable to attend can see and hear proceedings as they happen. This was always intended as an iterative process that would be extended to other meetings, informed by the experience of implementing the arrangements for full council meetings. At present there is no requirement on NPAs or FRAs to broadcast their meetings. 

To inform the next stage in our approach to broadcasting meetings, I want to hear views from individuals and organisations about:

• whether the duty on a principal council to broadcast meetings should be extended to include meetings other than that of the full council, and
• whether this approach should be extended to FRAs and/or NPAs to broadcast their meetings, and
• what the period of retention should be for the recordings of those meetings that are required to be broadcast. 

I would encourage you to share your views about these matters as part of the consultation process.