LOCAL councils are deleting recordings of their online meetings broadcast on Facebook and YouTube as soon as they’re completed, despite having the option to save and archive them for later viewing.

New State Government regulations announced in late-March facilitated councils holding all their meetings online, and were quickly adopted by councils, including Gawler Council, Adelaide Plains Council, Barossa Council, Light Regional Council and Playford Council.

Meetings are now being held using computer programs like Zoom or Skype to facilitate discussion between elected members and are broadcast live on streaming platforms like Facebook and YouTube.

These streaming platforms allow for live videos to be saved and uploaded to be watched again at a later time, but Gawler, Playford, Light Regional and Adelaide Plains councils have all deleted their meeting recordings shortly after their conclusion.

Barossa Council held its first electronic meeting last night, with a spokesperson telling The Bunyip meeting recordings would be retained after their conclusion.

Gawler Council held their first online meeting on April 7, and last Tuesday night held a special meeting which included discussion and decisions regarding the Springwood housing development, Gawler East Link Road and other issues related to the growth of Gawler East which lasted four hours.

Mayor Karen Redman said the new regulations made no requirement to save recorded meetings, meaning the council was not obligated to do so.

“There is currently no requirement under these variations to Section 90 for this live streaming to be recorded and kept available for public review,” she said.

“In effect, the live stream replaces the ability for our community to attend a meeting therefore, as if they were physically present, once the meeting finishes the stream finishes and is removed from public view.

“Council is aware that YouTube has the capacity to retain the recordings, however as previously stated, and as council does not have an official position on this, staff are following the minister’s direction with live streaming only at this stage.”

Member for Light and opposition local government spokesperson Tony Piccolo has slammed local councils for deleting their meetings, saying it would cause “apprehension in the community”, using Gawler Council as an example.

“Given the (Gawler) council prides itself on being very transparent this is a very curious decision to make.  It certainly gives rise to the apprehension from the community that the council is trying to avoid scrutiny,” he said.

“Given the advances in technology the cost would be minimal if any at all. The council should be acting in a way that encourages community participation in decision making.

“This decision to delete the recordings sends the message that the community is not welcome.”

Local Government minister Stephan Knoll was contacted for comment, but did not respond.