Lights, Camera, Action (From Times Series)

Lights, Camera, Action

8:02pm Saturday 28th March 2009

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Eighteen months or so ago a camera crew followed Barnet Planners and Councillors around. They recorded site visits, officers at work and also recorded planning sub committee meetings.

This eventually became a BBC TV series entitled “The Planners are Coming” It was first aired last September. Three episodes went out, with Actor Timothy Small as voice over.

The episodes covered a number of planning application in Barnet as well as other London Boroughs. It was fun to watch Councillors in the different Boroughs go about their decision making. But by far the most coverage was Barnet planning and in particular the area covered by Finchley and Golders green Planning Sub Committee.

The without any warning the series stopped. Most of us thought it must be something to do with audience figures after all planning can not compete with the likes of Big Brother or The Apprentice. As the Sunday times TV critic put it “”the machinations of local authority planning departments are not Ross Kemp territory”

Lo and behold the planners are back; Tuesdays at 1035pm. The return of the series covered a proposal to fell two protected Oak trees in Garden Suburb. The planning sub committee rejected the plans.

The real story of course is Barnet permitted the Cameras to record Council proceedings. I think we come out very well. The presence of the Cameras in my view did not effect our discussions. . The public gallery is full and residents are seen on screen addressing the planning committee. It is a great advert for the democratic process.

Perhaps the Council would be better exploring ways to film all Council meetings to download on the their web site. The that would be real democracy in action Actually I am amazed by the number of people, who are as far as I know have no interest in planning, contacted me to say they watch the series and enjoy it. It is even been shown in Australia.

So make a note to tune in on Tuesday at, BBC1 at 1035. Or catch up on last Tuesday’s edition on BBC i player.

For my part its back to the real thing on Wednesday next; It looks like it will be a lively meeting. More on this next week but a pity that it will not be on TV.