Family monitor planning bid online from home

Aug 24 2007 by Alan Weston, Liverpool Daily Post

A WIRRAL family last night learnt the outcome of their planning application as it happened – without leaving their home.

Their borough council has become the first authority in the North-West to launch a pilot scheme in which planning committee meetings can be watched live on the internet.

The new facility uses web cameras at council meetings to capture the information and send it to a central server, which in turn sends it to anyone that would like to view the meeting online.

Raby Mere couple Graham and Linda Dunroe submitted an application to build an extension above the garage to enlarge their four-bedroom detached house.

However, while the technology might be brand new, some things never change – committee members deferred a decision to allow a site visit to take place, meaning it will have to go back to the planning committee again for approval.

Despite this, the Dunroes, who watched the meeting on their laptop at home with their eight-year-old daughter, Emma, said they were well pleased with the innovation.

“It was really good. We could blow the camera footage up to full screen, although a couple of times the sound went,” said Mrs Dunroe.

“We found out exactly why they want to do a site visit, and we don’t have to wait for a letter or a phone call, we just knew straightaway what had gone on and why, all the time sitting in comfort.

“This is definitely better than the usual way of hearing about planning applications.

“At the normal meetings, the general public just sit there listening, and they could be sat there for a couple of hours depending where you are on the agenda.

“There are also the difficulties of getting down there. If you have children, you have to find a babysitter, so this is far more convenient.”

The web-cast facility also archives each meeting, which means recorded meetings can be viewed at any time of day, as many times as required.

Markers in the computer download file called index points allow users to jump to a specific agenda point or speaker.

Chairman of the planning committee, Cllr John Cocker, last night welcomed the move.

He said: “This new facility is very good news for Wirral residents and developers.

“Now the meetings can be watched live, or at a time that suits you, from the comfort of your own armchair or even from the side of a swimming pool on holiday.

“It’s also going to save many journeys across Wirral to watch the meetings in person. People can now log on and watch at home or at work and save unnecessary car journeys.”

To access the web cast facility, visit www.wirral.gov.uk and click on Planning Webcasts on the right hand menu.

The pilot scheme runs until the end of January, 2008.

alanweston