RESIDENTS will soon be able to listen to the decisions of their borough councillors following an agreement to record Cheshire East Council meetings.

At a meeting of the full council on Thursday, October 20, CEC councillors voted in favour of recording future meetings to be uploaded on the council’s website.

The motion was recommended for approval by CEC’s constitution committee, which claims the purpose of the recordings would be to resolve any disagreement over the accuracy of draft minutes.

The committee recommended that recording should take place at all decision-making meetings, including overview and scrutiny committees, and that the recordings are retained for six months following each meeting.

Cllr Rod Menlove, Conservative borough councillor for Wilmslow East, told the Guardian: “This is a very welcome decision that supports openness and transparency.

“[It] means that those who are not able to attend these open meetings can hear from the council website precisely what was said and agreed.

“The other benefit is that action decisions in the minutes can be cross-checked against audio-recordings rather than hand written notes.

“I am pleased to see the commendable sense of urgency in ordering equipment and resolving any technical matters so that recordings are soon available on the website.”

Any members of decision-making bodies that attended a specific meeting will be able to request the audio recording is reviewed to clarify the wording of a draft minute.

Recordings that are required under Freedom of Information requests will be retained for more than six months, as required by law.

The Guardian understands that CEC has taken delivery of its first audio-recording device, which has been tested under limited conditions, and further devices have now been ordered so recordings of all meetings can be made.

Recording equipment is not expected to cost CEC more than £600, with the council claiming that “suitable devices can be purchased for around £140”.