NEXT week’s mayor making ceremony will be the first council meeting in Newport to be screened online.

On May 20 viewers of the council’s website will be able to see the city’s 382nd mayor, outgoing Tory group leader, Councillor Matthew Evans, officially installed.

Councillor Cliff Suller is handing over the chains of office to Cllr Evans, who will be supported during the year by his wife and mayoress, Tina Hatton-Evans.

The Argus understands that from that meeting onwards all full council meetings will be filmed, as will meetings of the planning and licensing committees.

It follows months of testing – attendees to filmed council meetings will be made aware that they could be filmed in the agenda.

Cameras are currently only set up within the council chamber and not other committee rooms.

Councillor Bob Bright, Labour leader of Newport City Council, said: “Broadcasting meetings is another way of opening up council meetings to the public and improving transparency.

“It will provide a full record of meetings so people will be able to get an accurate account of the decisions being taken and what is being said.

“It is appropriate that this historic moment will start with a ceremony which has taken place in the city for hundreds of years as well as the annual general meeting which formally begins another year of business for the council.”

Torfaen council began webcasting its meetings last year, with 700 people tuning in to the first meeting.

Last year the Labour administration agreed that webcasting should take place after funding was made available from the Welsh government.

A council report showed that a 12-month pilot project could cost around £14,000.

Meanwhile it has been announced that the mayor of Newport is to have his own Twitter account.

The account, named @MayorofNewport, will provide regular updates on mayoral visits and fundraising activities.

Newport council’s annual general meeting and mayor making ceremony take place at the Civic Centre, starting at 5pm.

It can be viewed at newport.public-i.tv/core