Ethical standards clinic

At the hearing which concerns the conduct of a high profile member, a journalist requests to tape record or film the proceedings. What advice should I give to the Committee?

The Committee should adjourn the hearing so as to consider this request and may also wish to take representations from the subject member and the investigator. The Committee should consider the authority’s normal procedures for filming or tape recording of meetings and other proceedings, and apply those to the hearing. Generally, such requests would be refused as the Committee is likely to have its own method of recording and it would be most unusual to allow such activities.

The Committee may wish you to liaise with the journalist and address his or her concerns which may indicate the desire for the hearing to be tape recorded or filmed. A gentle conciliatory approach may be effective in persuading the journalist that recording is not necessary. In some cases the subject member may insist that the proceedings are recorded or filmed. A firm approach should be taken by the Committee as to its position where it considers that tape recording or filming is inappropriate, setting out the Council’s normal rules and highlighting that the Clerk to the Committee will be making an adequate record of what happens at the Committee.