Councillor Calls for Easier Public Access to Council Meetings Online

A request to improve public access to council meetings is set to be raised under “Any Other Relevant Business” at this week’s Corporate Policy and Resources Committee.

Councillor Darryl Wilson has asked officers to clarify why members of the public must currently submit a request in advance to view meetings online, raising concerns that the system may be limiting transparency and engagement.

While meetings are available to watch remotely, access is not automatic. Instead, residents must apply beforehand to receive viewing details.

Councillor Wilson has questioned whether this requirement creates what he describes as “an unnecessary barrier” to public participation, particularly for those unable to attend in person.

In his submission, he said openness and transparency are “fundamental principles of good governance” and argued that residents should be able to observe decision-making processes without needing to seek prior permission.

He also highlighted practical challenges faced by members of the public, including work commitments, caring responsibilities and mobility issues, which may prevent attendance at in-person meetings.

The councillor is seeking answers from officers on several key points, including why advance requests are currently required and whether any barriers exist to making meetings freely accessible online.

He has also asked whether proposals will be brought forward to remove the application process, and if so, when unrestricted access could be introduced.

The matter will be raised during the “Any Other Relevant Business” section of the meeting, where issues not formally listed on the main agenda can be discussed.

Across Northern Ireland and the wider UK, many councils already livestream meetings directly on platforms such as YouTube.

In England alone, the majority of local authorities now provide live or recorded webcasts of meetings, with hundreds of councils using YouTube or similar platforms to make proceedings publicly accessible without prior registration.