NATIONALIST councillors have lodged a bid to film all council meetings.

North Ayrshire Council’s SNP Group this week submitted a motion to finally put live broadcasting facilities at Cunninghame House to use.

This comes two weeks after the Times were blocked from filming a major full council meeting.

Our sister title - the Ardrossan & Saltcoats Herald - submitted a motion to film and photograph during the proceedings.

But it was quashed by councillors who voiced concerns about the editing of videos.

Ahead of the full council meeting today (Wednesday, September 14), however, the SNP launched a bid to have all council meetings broadcast live online.

The facilities have been available since the council chambers were refurbished in 2014.

But the SNP did not bring them into use at any point during their administration.

High costs were previously blamed for the failure to implement live broadcasting.

Only independent Councillor Robert Steel, backed by SNP members Tony Gurney and John Bruce, backed a motion to allow the media to film the full council meeting two weeks ago.

Councillor Steel told the Times last week he had “nothing to hide” and said live broadcasting would bring greater transparency.

The new motion was proposed by SNP Group leader Councillor Willie Gibson, backed by deputy Councillor Alan Hill.

It reads: “The previous SNP administration worked with the Chief Executive to have live broadcasting facilities installed in our new council chamber.

“As SNP councillors, we have always held a strong belief that the people who voted for us should have the ability to see what we do in carrying out our duties in representing them and in this regard members of the public can already attend council and cabinet meetings.

“However, given that we now have the ability to stream live internet broadcasting from this chamber, the SNP Group can see no reason why anyone would deny members of the public, many of whom may have difficulties in attending daytime meetings in Irvine, the opportunity to view our meetings.”

The motion continues: “We are elected to serve the public and therefore should not fear public scrutiny. 

“We also believe that the broadcasting of meetings should be adopted as a principled approach rather than offered on a piecemeal basis as proposed at the last meeting of the full council.

“North Ayrshire Council supports the building of open and visible democracy in local government and in doing so supports the expansion of public interest which in turn will serve to dispel the fear of public scrutiny.

“North Ayrshire Council therefore resolves to commence the live internet broadcasting of all public political meetings from this chamber and instructs offices to deliver this as soon as possible.”

A vote will be held at Cunninghame House today (Wednesday, September 14)