A SCHEME to live stream East Dorset council meetings could cost the authority £15,000 to set up - but chiefs have defended the investment.

East Dorset District Council's cabinet recommended the introduction of live streaming public meetings held at the Allendale Centre.

The final say on the scheme will be made at full council on Monday October 30.

Partner authority Christchurch Borough Council introduced live streaming earlier this year and the viewership has steadily been increasing.

If approved, the £15,000 investment, allocated from the council's Capital Programme, will be used to fund the purchase and installation of video equipment.

Discussions are on-going on where East Dorset District Council can make savings to reduce a budget deficit over the coming years, but the scheme received unanimous support from members at a cabinet meeting earlier this month.

Councillors said the broadcasts would aid transparency and openness around council business.

David McIntosh, chief executive of Christchurch and East Dorset Councils, said: “If members support the introduction of live streaming at East Dorset District Council meetings we will need to make a one-off investment to purchase and install the equipment to allow this to go ahead.

"The video equipment is automated and does not require manual operation and therefore officer time involved is minimal.

"Once installed no further costs will be incurred as all meetings are streamed through YouTube.

"As we hold approximately 70 public meetings a year the cost per meeting is minimal as the equipment will last for a number of years."

At the same cabinet meeting as the discussions of live streaming, proposals to increase parking charges in Wimborne and Ferndown were debated.

The scheme suggests raising the fees in an attempt to meet tighter financial budgets.

A public consultation is due to be launched to gauge residents' views on the heightened prices.

Mr McIntosh added the broadcasting meetings online had been well received in Christchurch.

“The introduction of live streaming at Christchurch Borough Council meetings has proved a successful way to increase engagement with residents and helps people understand the ways in which members reach difficult decisions,” he said.