From Pam Newby, Exeter 383654, June 22,2007

Devon County Council's webcasting service continues to be enthusiastically used by people wanting to follow Council meetings but unable to attend in person.

In April a total of 1,232 people tuned in to watch and listen to meetings including the Executive and Development Control Commitee.

A breakdown of the audience shows that 61 people watched the meetings live but the majority accessed archived webcasts of earlier meetings.

The most popular webcast was the Executive meeting on April 10 which attracted 88 viewers.

May's figures show 1,859 people watching webcasts, 92 of them live.

The most popular webcast was the Executive of May 1, which had 108 viewers. This was also the most popular live webcast with 34 watching proceedings as they happened.

The April and May figures brings the total number of viewers since the service began to 30,344 - an average of over 600 a month.

Nationally more than 40 councils provide regular webcasting services similar to Devon's. Devon County Council webcasts meetings of the Full Council, Executive, Development Control Committee and the Environment Economy, Policy Resources and Health Overview/Scrutiny Committees.

Conferences and other events are also webcast. The County Council first used webcasting in 2001 when it staged the country's first public inquiry into the Foot and Mouth epidemic, a social and economic disaster for many rural communities.

The webcasts are made on the Council's award-winning website http://www.devon.gov.uk/. People can watch webcasts of meetings live as they take place or view recordings later at a time to suit them.

They can also use the website to send in their views on the issues discussed, the decisions taken and the webcasting service itself.

"The big attraction of webcasting is that people can either 'attend' meetings live as they happen or access recordings when it suits them," said Executive Support Member for Customer Service Performance Improvement Councillor Des Hannon. "As the figures show, being able to choose when to watch is the biggest advantage for many people.

"Devon people have always had a right to come and see in person how we make our decisions. Everyone is still very welcome. But now we are actively opening ourselves up to the public in a way that is much more convenient to them. That is boosting participation hugely. We are unlikely ever to host more than 1,000 members of the public in person at our meetings. Technology allows the public to see us on their own terms."

For those who are not connected to the internet at home, recordings of meetings can be accessed at libraries (people should check availability with their local library first) and Devon In Touch - the state-of-the-art vehicle developed by the County Council in partnership with BBC Radio Devon and Devon Fire and Rescue Service which tours the county to give people in rural communities the chance to use the internet, find out more about public services and how to access them.

The Council has developed its 'webcasting' technology in a partnership with public-i, the country's leading provider of webcasting technology designed for the public sector. This is funded from the Council's modernisation programme funded by Government borrowing approvals.

NOTE TO EDITORS:

Councillor Hannon can be contacted on 01884 253627.