Agenda item

The Town Clerk to be heard.

The Town Clerk reported that this matter had initially been raised by the Magistracy and Livery Sub-Committee and that they were keen to increase visibility at Common Hall by erecting various screens within the Great Hall so that those in all seats could have a good view of the proceedings. The proceedings would also be live streamed via YouTube. The option of further tiered seating had also been discussed although the Town Clerk reported that this was already in use and could be costly to extend further. The erection of screens would therefore seem to be a more cost-effective solution and quotes received indicated that the cost of this would be approximately £5,000. However, the AV costs of the ceremony were already paid for each year from the Town Clerk’s Local Risk Budget (approximately £2,000) and so there would only be an additional £3,000 to find for this purpose. It was proposed that this cost might be met from the Aldermanic Contingency Fund in the first instance with the effectiveness of this solution assessed thereafter. If it were to be a success then this could lead to a business case being made for ongoing funding centrally.

RESOLVED – That the General Purposes Committee of Aldermen agree that the additional costs associated with the erection of additional screens within the Great Hall for the broadcasting of Common Hall be met from the Aldermanic Contingency Fund for 2022/23.