Today's Cabinet meeting heard that they had received an application from a member of the public to Audio record the meeting, which was in accordance with the 1973 act.

However Tony Buchanan, the leader of the council and chair of the cabinet apparently decided that it was not going to happen.

He apparently informed those Cllrs present that as the meeting would be minuted, that would be sufficient.

The meeting then commenced and lasted five minutes and was then concluded after dealing with the one item on the agenda.

Should we be concerned at this decision?

Apparently taken by Cllr Tony Buchanan on his own and it went through 'on the nod', without comment or voting by the remainder of the Cabinet.

Councillor Tony Buchanan (Chair);
Councillor Paul O'Kane (Vice-Chair);
Councillor Caroline Bamforth
Councillor Danny Devlin;
Councillor Alan Lafferty;
Councillor Colm Merrick

Cllr Buchanan stated that as the meeting would be minuted that was sufficient.

It may have been 'sufficient' for him, however is it 'sufficient' for the public?

Why does he not wish it to be audio recorded by a member of the public?

No staff implications, no microphones placed onto the councillors desks.

We are well aware having constantly being told that, 'minutes' are not verbatim accounts of meetings.

This meeting was to approve the moving of £50k from one account to another to cover monies required to cover grants connected with Universal Credit.

We heard it alleged that this was the fault of the Westminster Government.

Will that comment be minuted and attributed to the specific Cllr concerned?

What 'reasonable' reason could Cllr Buchanan have to not wish the Cabinet meeting to be audio recorded?


On how many occasions has Tony Buchanan been quoted as saying ERC are committed to promoting openness and transparency.........



Cllr Buchanan 'believes in openness and transparency'

Would it be anything to do with the fact that there are a few loose cannons in the Cabinet.

Some of what they say and the way that they say it appears to infer that they have a disdain for the public of East Renfrewshire...........

The Council(sorry we !) are paying for 30 hrs of Council Meetings to be Webcast.

The Council are not nearly using the full 30hrs.

How is this value for money? Where are Audit & Scrutiny when you need them?

These Committee meetings should be Webcast until the full 30 hrs have been fully used while free social media/video alternatives are sought.

Transparent - Open. You have to laugh !