New guidelines drawn up following Middlesbrough Council decision to allow filming of meetings

New guidelines drawn up in response to Middlesbrough Council’s decision to allow filming of meetings have been approved.

The authority was forced to draw up new rules after a row broke up over the issue last month.

The draft guidelines were unveiled last week and have now been approved by the council’s constitution committee.

Members of the public and the media will also be permitted to record their own footage, subject to a new code of conduct which includes:

• All members of the public remain seated during the proceedings;

• As some members of the public may prefer not to be filmed, they should sit or stand at the rear;

• Those wishing to film must show appropriate respect to the public who do not want to be filmed;

• In seeking to film or photograph, the conduct of the meeting must not be disturbed;

• If a motion to exclude the press and public is passed, they will be asked to leave and no recordings can then take place;

• Without the express consent of parents/guardians, the filming of any children is prohibited;

• If someone refuses to stop recording, when requested to do so, the chair will ask the person to leave;

• If they refuse the chairman may adjourn the meeting.

The row over filming flared at the council’s annual general meeting on May 14 was halted just minutes after opening after a member of the public began filming.

The council initially said filming such meetings was against its constitution but has now relented ahead of new legislation due to come into force in mid-July.

The council will record video and audio at meetings of full council and, where possible and practical, other key executive and committee meetings.

The new arrangements will come into effect at the next meeting of full council on Wednesday when the authority will record proceedings and make the footage available via the council’s website the following day.

At Tuesday’s meeting, the committee agredwill meet in six months to check on the progress of the new guidelines and to look at any issues.

John King, who was asked to stop filming at the AGM, thanked the local authority for “seeing sense over the issue” and called it a “victory for common sense, transparency and public accountability”.

Cllr Kerr said: “These meetings have always been open to the public and to representatives of the local media who ensure proceedings reach a wider audience.

“Filming, photography and audio recordings of meetings by members of the public have not been allowed in the past, in no small part due to the potential for selective, misleading or mischievous editing.

“However we do accept that the rise of social media is allowing for ever greater scrutiny of public bodies, and we will play our part by ensuring the best possible footage from important meetings is made available.”