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community activist Kazek Lokuciewski is unhappy at a u-turn by the council which meant he couldn't film the South Wokingham Community Forum
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Blogger banned from filming public forum

By Douglas Coulter
February 12, 2013

A blogger's plea to video a community forum was turned down by council bosses but has helped opened the debate on the issue.

Videographer and community activist Kazek Lokuciewski was initially given the nod to film the South Wokingham Community Forum last Wednesday to share with residents unable to make the meeting.

But Wokingham Borough Council later withdrew the offer, saying further discussion about the potential impact on the meetings was required.

Mr Lokuciewski, of Tangley Drive, who intended to share the film via his YouTube blog and social media, said: “The meetings are at 6pm, which is not great timing for people with families.

“There’s a lack of public engagement with the council so as much as possible should be done to make it easier.

“I was prepared to share it unedited and having the meeting available on YouTube would allow people to view it whenever they like and make the council more transparent.”

Councillor Prue Bray, leader of Wokingham Liberal Democrats, said: “I can’t understand what the reluctance is. We would prefer a much more open culture. We need to open up democracy and not shut people out of it.”

But Wokingham Borough Council head of sustainable communities Josie Wragg said: “We are interested in Mr Lokuciewski’s idea to promote the content of the forums through video and we are keen to discuss ways of letting more people know about what is discussed at them. We do, however, need to be sure that those involved in the forums are comfortable with what we do.”

The potential for communicating council business live has rocketed following the explosion of social media, with councillors able to Tweet from the chamber but making and distributing video still remains controversial.

Cllr Rob Stanton, deputy leader of the council said: “I personally don’t have any objection. However, we have to make sure people behave in a responsible manner.”

Eric Pickles, Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, believes councils’ should let bloggers or hyperlocal news sites stream meetings online to help improve public scrutiny.

The forum offers residents the chance to have their say on the latest news about Wokingham’s Strategic Development Locations (SDLs), areas earmarked for more than 10,000 homes by 2026.

Mrs Wragg added: “Wokingham Borough Council wants to involve as wide a range of people in discussions on the major developments across the borough as it can and is considering the pros and cons of making the content of the forums more widely available through social media.

“We will continue to try to raise awareness of these important meetings.

“We would urge anybody interested in the forums to attend if possible, but those who cannot attend can send questions and comments on any aspects of the major developments to sdl.forums@wokingham.gov.uk.”

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Oh no it won't. Oh yes it will. The sods would wriggle out of it even if you had it hologrammed in 3D and a sworn affidavit from the queen. I have just received a circular called The Earley Focus from the Lib Dems. What a load of shifty, twisty fact bending blighters they are. If more followed our beliefs and stopped believing them it may force them to change. However i don't think videoing them will change them, sadly it will probably encourage them but i think i may be coming round to your way of thinking.

parlovero, Earley
17/02/2013 at 18:38

No. Having undisputable evidence will help a little.

Kaz4Wokingham, Wokingham
16/02/2013 at 19:32

I admire your fortitude but i feel you are sadly lacking in certain areas. Do you actually still believe any word ever spoken by a politician?

parlovero, Earley
16/02/2013 at 08:34

They are. Now go and find them discuss them and be confident all the points made like 'will not build on Elms field' are minuted.#HardWork Just film it and upload it. Easy 4 all.

Kaz4Wokingham, Wokingham
15/02/2013 at 19:21

If the informaion were put on the council website then the presentations could also be put on the web. I am aware that there are a few who do not have access to the internet but they could be circulated by letter if they so wished. It is not necessary to video all meetings.

parlovero, Earley
15/02/2013 at 16:04

Regarding my 'aspirations' I offered to purchase the equipment for the council and that one of the councillor's pop it on a tripod and hit record but was refused. I agree audio is more than half the battle. It is only when discussing things that are on a presentation screen that key information is lost If the camera was to face the presentation screen then the public would the access to the information they need in a consumable manner.

Regarding executive meetings I would love people to see how cold and authoritative they are. Just 3 minutes of pre written questions being the only public involvement as an executive who are not randomly selected from the Cllr pool. Knowing it was on camera might make the answers to the questions more accountable.

Kaz4Wokingham, Wokingham
15/02/2013 at 14:36

Why not just tape it and make the audio record available for general release via the council website. All meetings could be done this way. If you wish to give your name you can, if you don't then you don't have to. It is totally unecessary to film a meeting. There may be people who would not go if they were seen on a you tube blog. I feel this is more about the aspirations of an amateur video producer than council openess and information flow.

parlovero, Earley
15/02/2013 at 10:33

Cllr Baker. We are still waiting. Will you insist that strategic business partners and council reprentatives attend filmed public meetings for free unedited with comment and distribution open youtube etc if that is what most people responding to a random survey want?

Kaz4Wokingham, Wokingham
15/02/2013 at 10:13

Trick is to put it in green square mode and aim at the person.

Kaz4Wokingham, Wokingham
14/02/2013 at 22:48

haha yes - is this a ploy to market your videography services Kaz? ;-)

alex_f, Wokingham
14/02/2013 at 20:18

I'm not accusing them of anything. I could be corrupt. It could be a front to build up a following then abuse it.

So were I a Councillor I would be completely open and back calls for it. I would sign out my ability to ever earn money from people I had negotiated contracts with or the companies they represent. I'm a clever chap I'll earn a living else where. Then you would know I was 'less likely' to be corrupt.

There is a scale and the the more secretive are probed are simply more lekely to be corrupt.

There are definitions of corrupt too. My standard includes MP's running a business that advises on investments and Tax avoidance.

Other people do not see a problem with that.

Kaz4Wokingham, Wokingham
14/02/2013 at 20:14

I'm certainly not quite as cynical as you Kaz, but then you have a lot more experience of this than I do, I've only been here for 20 months.

But I think it is a little unfair to accuse Cllr Corrie and Cllr Baker of going that step further to hide corruption, unless there is unquestionable proof. I agree with you on a great deal but our views probably differ most on this. I'm more of the opinion of giving people the benefit of the doubt. I like to think we have a lot of both town and borough councillors who are dedicating their spare time for little to no financial benefit, and those that I have met in person have been very ordinary and caring people, and their portrayal is often unfounded. i can't see any reason to suspect cllr Baker has anything to hide but there is work to do no doubt to ensure a wider audience can still see the presentations whilst alleviating the concerns which have been expressed to him.

alex_f, Wokingham
14/02/2013 at 19:50

Opps. I was going for the feather duster.

In a nutshell. Money is untraceable.

There is about £100k / dwelling that is just planning permission profit.

There are people who are paid just to try encourage the council allow them to keep as much of that £100k as possible and not request it as affordable housing and infrastructure. Did I say that money is untraceable?

So how do we stop corruption? We take the control of publication away from the money or those they might support with campaign leaflets etc.

That means polling cards that go out 'with' candidate info. That means the public seeing the people they voted for in action, that means the costings and the deals being open to independent scrutiny (Independent does not mean someone you select and pay yourself!) better still 'Public'

Anyone who puts their head up and says 'I am against this level of openness accountable' is not fit to govern the world our children are going to inherit.

In my humble opinion.

So. We have Cllr Corrie and Cllr Baker. Anyone else?

Kaz4Wokingham, Wokingham
14/02/2013 at 19:30

Kaz is that a sledgehammer I hear again? ;-)

alex_f, Wokingham
14/02/2013 at 19:00

Anyone know which roads are in Cllr Bakers ward?

Perhaps the small handful of people who are in favor of open accountable democracy will be interested to know who is blocking it. And might question what the real motive is?