COUNCILLORS in Burnley have taken their first tentative steps towards allowing the filming of town hall meetings.

But a proposal to allow elected members to record proceedings without first checking with democracy officials was voted down at a full council meeting.

Coun Martin Isherwood, a Conservative representative for Cliviger and Worsthorne, said councillors should be given carte blanche to film all meetings.

Council leader Coun Julie Cooper said such move, prompted by new government ‘localism’ legislation, were only in their early stages.

An approach would need to be made to the council’s democracy team by the public, on each occasion required, before permission could be given for filming.