While the coverage was laudable I have two questions

Evidently it is at the (Labour) Council's discretion as to who they allow to tweet at Council meetings - fair (or unfair?) enough.

But then, in the interest of democracy and fairness why was Andrew Gwynne(Labour) MP, the husband of a senior Tameside councillor (Labour) been given so much room to comment during the reportage? Poor decision by whoever.

A second pont - why are the meetings not televised? Why not use the " web-based video news service", currently paid for by the Council tax payers and used basically as a propaganda machine, to bring true democracy to the people of Tameside!

I dare any Councillor to answer!

Council tax set to rise 'by 1.6%'
Council tax bills in England will rise by an average of 1.6% to £1,194 per household in 2010/11, according to analysis.(and that was published in the media yesterday)

Perhaps Tamesiders deserve what they have got because the disgusting Council Tax increase announced with spurios and red hering references to other Greater Manchester Councils is nothing but disgusting Spin when you look at the National Average increases reported yesterday.
Strikes me the Electorate of Tameside need educating on how their Labour dominated Council actually operates,with a cynical contempt and duplicity for those who pay the full Council Taxes.
What is not surprising reading the Councillors and MP comments is that a vast depth of incredible immaturity,and absolute cr-- is delivered at this meeting,and it may appeal to those on constant hand outs in Tameside but surely the rest have their heads and more buried in the sand.
That meeting surely represents the bunch of childish,sniping,and brain dead egotistical people who administrate Tamesiders lives,and you just wait to read the annual Councillors salary and expenses
for this next year.
How can 225,000 people be so adrift from reality,as they mutter and moan about what`s being ripped out of their pockets,its so plain to see why,and perhaps you need SpectSavers.
As for the Tory lap dogs Labour has certainly got you in their pockets by some means.

Priorities include reducing the borough's carbon footprint, cutting crime and safeguarding jobs and small businesses. Education is also high on the agenda with £144m being spent on the Building Schools for the Future programme. Patrollers will also have their hours extended to work later into the evenings. Cllr Oldham said the budget was one of hope, growth and strength.
What councillor Oldham failed to mention was how much would be spent at the Liebour parties conference this year our money given to the Liebour party whether we like it or not. Also not mentioned were the golden pensions executives will be getting of course these will be index linked. What a council Stalinist in its ways and Stalinist in its thinking.

Hi Gladys. Just to clarify what happens with this live coverage of the council meeting, the coverage is co-ordinated by us, not the council. The council kindly gives us permission to send updates from the meeting, but it doesn't control who actually tweets and what appears, we do. As you can see from the coverage, there are several contributes who sent in comments or questions that we added to the coverage. Andrew Gwynne's tweets appear on the coverage as he's an avid and able user of Twitter. In an ideal world we'd like councillors from all sides to tweet during the meeting, which would then give the coverage some more balance, but unfortunately we're not yet aware of any councillors that use it. Bear in mind that this is a new process for everyone, including us, but we hope that everyone can see the long-term benefits of covering the meetings this way. And maybe after seeing this coverage, other councillors will be encouraged to take part and get tweeting next time?

Mr. Swettenham how are councillors supposed to 'tweet' when they are supposed to be listening to and taking part in important debates?

Instead, you find your worthwhile exercise inudated by the views of an MP who should have something better to do with his time. Indeed, Gwynne is a huge Twitter fan, it appears he has nothing better to do with his time.

Maybe it would be better for the Advertiser/MEN not to allow these inane ramblings and just report the council meeting as it happens. Otherwise, you are just leaving this style of reporting open to all sorts of abuse.

Hi Lee
Must say that the refences to Twitter and the opinion it should be used more is not what democracy was based on.
Because Mr Gwynne is an avid user of Twitter should not appear to raise a congratulatory opinion by the MEN,and your reference to more tweeting would improve the balance at meetings indicates that the Tameside MBC Tweeting is definately not associated with a balanced opinion of events at present.
So if Mr Gwynne decides to use this discriminatory advantage which creates an unbalance of events
then either this method of overiding events should be discontinued,or put to the Tameside Electorate in a democratic manner whether or not they wish their representatives to indulge in Tweeting as a focal point regarding TMBC`s News.
Much more acceptable would be a restraint on the serious curb on democracy in Tameside
where people who seek election deny the public open forum debates where open questions and opinions should be put to candidates seeking votes,wheres even the Distric Assembly meetings are hi-jacked by TMBC`s own regulations which state 4 minutes is suffice for a question,and if a response is given by any Councillor or Council Official then the original questioner cannot and must not respond again to any answer they receive.
Even allowances to combat plans against developments causing environmental degradation are limited to 3-4 minutes whereas the Council Leader determines how long he wishes to speak on the issue.
There are serious fundamental abuses of the Rights of Citizens in Tameside granted by UN and EEC
legistlated Directives and I trust the MEN/Advertiser will reflect all the issues of a fully democratic system which at present does not occur.
Its a fact that Mr.Gwynne has an open invitation from the Media to inform the public of what happens to him,whether it be catching his finger in a letter box,receiving a booklet from the Prime Minister because of his wound,or even Christmas Lights on his home, or whatever takes his fancy to
seek pictures and comments in the local media in an effort to remain a focal point,BUT if I have sought to expose serious issues which reflect on TMBC or its elected representatives in the Advertiser paper edition letters pages then the doors firmly close,and a recent event which occured
certainly proves that point where the residents of Denton West held a public meeting to combat the use of the large illuminated advertising tower erected on the extremely dangerous M67/M60/A57 major interchange where the 300.000 drivers each day can circumnavigate this well known accident black spot,whilst now reading the signs intended on this huge tower, and backed by TMBC,without the support of Greater Manchester Police.And I would suggest that any accident victims should check their legal rights regarding their rights against a deliberate disturbance of their required road observations
Now I sent by the internet full details of this deplorable planning decision by TMBC along with photographs, now did this get into the Advertiser or MEN certainly not,so someone needs to focus on why such instances occur where TMBC and its elected representatives are allowed to limit public knowledge being known to the 225,000 Tamesiders.
Objectivity,non discrimination,and observance of all the facts should be the criteria of our local press,but thats definately open to questioning now.
Regards

J.Hall'

What an excellent comment.
Your views are shared by the majority of hard working ..tax paying Tamesiders, its just a pity that a lot more don't submit there true views.
Keep up the superb and very truthfully comments.

I notice from the Council's website that they are employing heat-scanning vehicles to assess heat-loss from Tameside homes. They won't find any leaking from mine. I can hardly afford to have the heating on.

J Hall,You have got it spot on so much could be said but wouldnt be allowed keep up the good work.

Still waiting for one of those elected to serve us to repond!