Two motions call for reinstatement of Mayo council recording system

COUNCILLORS are to receive a presentation on a new system for recording their meetings.

Audio recordings of proceedings of Mayo County Council have been done by an external service provider for the past 30 years. However, they were recently told their services are no longer required, a decision elected members have told management to reverse.

Members, at a meeting this week, were told the recording of meetings will continue but will be managed in-house.

Two separate notices of motion were before the November meeting from councillors asking that the service continues as it has done, and that all public meetings be recorded.

They were informed in a written response that Mayo County Council has invested in technology and sound systems in the chamber with the objective of improving the quality of its meetings for all involved.

The systems allows the council to conduct hybrid meetings, giving opportunities to elected members and the public to join meetings online. It also allows for improved sound in the chamber and the opportunity to record meetings.

'The decision to conclude arrangements with a third-party supplier is not to cease the recordings of meetings but to use the advancements in our own technology in the chamber to carry out this function in-house, negating any additional costs to the council. The in-house arrangement also strengthens our protection/security of our files, with no third-party involvement.'

The reply added: 'The services of an external contractor were retained until the in-house technology was verified as being capable and suitable for this purpose.

'The audio recording of the monthly meetings of Mayo County Council will be continued on this new technology platform, managed in-house and subject to our own data security and management system.'

The necessity to have proper recording was highlighted by Councillor Ger Deere at a meeting where two members of the public interrupted proceedings, and he asked that the original service be reinstated.

Councillor Blackie Gavin said it was vital to have a backup system.

Chief executive Kevin Kelly said recording would continue. They have the technology and can do it in a more cost-effective way.

It was agreed to have a presentation on what is proposed under the new system at the next meeting of the authority.