WATCHING council meetings from the comfort of your own home could soon be a reality if a new initiative is passed.

North Somerset Council meetings could be streamed live on the internet, under plans discussed by the authority’s community and corporate organisation policy and scrutiny panel.

It will now be examined by a working group which will consider the idea’s benefits, according to Councillor Mark Canniford.

He said: “I feel that [some] councillors are getting away with murder, they follow the shepherd and don’t speak out.

“If meetings were streamed the public would be able to see what their councillors are doing.

“I don’t have a problem with it. However, a lot of Conservatives are totally opposed, because they are in a very large party and worried they won’t be heard. That is understandable and it’s not a criticism.”

He said the move could benefit those living outside of Weston because they would not have to travel to see something discussed.

Cllr Canniford added: “If you, for example, live in Pill you have to come a long way at your own expense.

“You have to come to see something spoken about for 10 minutes. I think it is a good way to increase democracy.”

Councils in Bristol and Devon already stream their meetings online, he said, and these are two authorities the working group will examine.