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Council's photo access rule is reversed

A district council has approved a regulation to block the press from taking photos in the council chamber without prior permission.

Previously, journalists were not required to ask for approval from North Lincolnshire Council – and the Scunthorpe Telegraph was not required to win permission for the Mayor-making ceremony at the meeting where the decision was taken.

It took several pictures of the new mayor and deputy mayor.

Coun Nic Dakin, leader of the opposition Labour group, said: “I object most strongly to [the item] which gags press and public.

“We are in a day and age when parliament is broadcast live – perhaps the council has been embarrassed in the paper and this is why the decision has been made? I reject this approach of censorship.”

And Coun Margaret Simpson (Lab) took time at the annual meeting to praise the Telegraph for its reporting and depiction of events covered at council meetings.

She said: “Many of us are no oil paintings, and I am sure a lot of people would rather see Miss Scunthorpe Telegraph, but the Labour group is set to tackle the risk. Do you not want pictures because you don’t trust yourselves?”

But council leader Don Stewart defended the decision, saying: “I am disappointed with the opposition which has come from this. It is no more than a little tidying up exercise. Once again the Opposition has taken this out of all context.”

And Telegraph editor Jon Grubb said: “We always asked permission first in any case. We treated the council chamber as we would any private property and this decision has formalised the process.”

It is three years since the then-Labour council allowed the press free access to take pictures, axing a rule where the media needed to ask to get permission.

The new procedure reads: “No photographs or video or sound recording shall be made in the council chamber or during any other meeting except with the consent of the mayor or other person presiding.”

The new procedure has no effect on reporters attending, or reporting, on matters at public meetings.

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