PART 3PROMOTING ACCESS TO LOCAL GOVERNMENT

CHAPTER 4LOCAL GOVERNMENT MEETINGS

46Electronic broadcasts of meetings of certain local authorities

1

A principal council must make and publish arrangements for the purpose of ensuring that—

a

a broadcast of proceedings at a meeting to which subsection (2) applies is available electronically so that members of the public not in attendance at the meeting can see and hear the proceedings;

b

the proceedings are broadcast as they take place, subject to any specified exceptions;

c

the broadcast is available electronically for a specified period after the meeting.

2

This subsection applies to proceedings at a meeting, or any part of a meeting, which is open to the public of—

a

a principal council;

b

any of the following specified bodies—

i

the executive of a principal council;

ii

a committee or sub-committee of an executive of a principal council;

iii

a committee or sub-committee of a principal council;

iv

a joint committee, or a sub-committee of a joint committee, of two or more principal councils.

3

The Welsh Ministers may by regulations make further provision in connection with the broadcast of proceedings at a meeting to which subsection (2) applies.

4

In subsections (1) and (2), “specified” means specified in regulations made by the Welsh Ministers.

5

If a principal council revises or replaces arrangements made under subsection (1), it must publish the revised or new arrangements.

6

A principal council making arrangements required by subsection (1) must have regard to any guidance about the exercise of that function issued by the Welsh Ministers.

7

The validity of any proceedings to which subsection (2) applies is not affected by the availability or otherwise of a broadcast (whether as the proceedings take place or afterwards).

8

The Welsh Ministers may by regulations make provision for and in connection with ensuring that proceedings at a meeting of an authority listed in subsection (9), or at a meeting of a committee or sub-committee of such an authority, are broadcast electronically.

9

The authorities are—

a

a fire and rescue authority for an area in Wales;

b

a National Park authority for a National Park in Wales;

c

a joint committee of one or more principal councils and one or more authorities described in paragraph (a) or (b);

d

a joint board which—

i

is constituted under any enactment as a body corporate, and

ii

discharges functions of two or more principal councils.

10

Regulations under subsection (3) or (8) may include provision amending, modifying, repealing or revoking any enactment.