Council meeting streamed on web

BEAMING live: councillors at a previous Question Time event as part of Local Democracy Week 2011, (from the left) Councillor Shoab Akhtar, deputy leader of Oldham Council, Councillor Jim McMahon, Oldham Council leader, and Councillor Dave Hibbert, cabinet member for housing, transport and regeneration

RESIDENTS will be able to watch an Oldham Council meeting from the comfort of their own home on Wednesday.

A pilot scheme designed to make decision-making more open and transparent, and bring public meetings into the digital age, will be kickstarted with a full council meeting streamed live from the council chamber on the internet.

The meeting starts at 6pm and will be available to view on the council website — www.oldham.gov.uk — for the first time.

The live streaming will allow residents to watch the entire meeting live.

Meetings will also now start with a 20-minute Open Council session that allows members of the public to put questions directly to cabinet members.

Residents can take part in a variety of ways and submit their questions via social media networks Facebook (www.facebook.com/loveoldham) and Twitter (@OldhamQT), or email localdemocracy@oldham.gov.uk.