AN opposition councillor has called for council meetings to be streamed live online to make them more transparent to residents.

Anthony Powers, leader of It's Our County, put the motion forward proposing that the Herefordshire Council executive consider upgrading its system from audio-casting to live online video streaming.

Coun Powers said: "The proposal in the motion is not something experimental. It is not something unusual. 111 local authorities in England already use video casting as a matter of course."

He said it would cost between £40,000 to £50,000 a year, plus capital costs for the start-up.

He added: "I would say this is something we cannot afford not to do."

Coun Powers said almost all of the council's neighbouring authorities already do this.

But Conservative councillor Paul Rone said: "I think we had a trial period where the planning committee was broadcast live to about 25 people. I can remember the quality was so low the chairman, Coun Cutter, was mumbling away and everyone was struggling to hear."

He said he sees the money which would be spent on the project as money which could be spent on a full time social worker.

He said: "I think this is going to fall into a vanity project. I don't understand this at all. There is a big door over there, the agenda is published widely and anyone can come and sit here. "

He said he did not see how the council could agree to spend money on this when there are much more pressing projects.

Leader Coun Jonathan Lester said he would be happy for the executive to consider the option but at this stage it would just be a consideration.

All of council voted in favour of the motion to consider video-casting meetings.