FAREHAM council has backed plans to install a state-of-the art sound system in meeting chambers but stopped short of spending even more to transmit the meetings live on the Internet.

Councillors could have voted to spend up to £21,000 on a package that would beam meetings directly into the homes of residents via the Web while electronically identifying each member.

The facility was demonstrated at an earlier meeting where experts showed how a digital video camera could transmit images of the meetings on to a website.

Instead, councillors plumped for a more conservative option of improving the sound quality costing around £10,000 - still £4,000 more than the cheapest option on offer.

However, members of the council's executive committee have left the door open for what one councillor described as "Yawn TV" by opting for a package that could be upgraded to webcast standard.

Executive leader Sean Woodward said: "It is likely that the government will want to see webcasting as part of local government policy by 2005. If that is the case we don't want to spend money on a cheaper system now that in a few years' time would have to be replaced.

"I am sure if we did that we would be highly-criticised. This package gives us the option of upgrading it should we need to."

The plans to pay for the digital sound system that could eventually incorporate cameras did meet with criticism from Liberal Democrat group leader Roger Price.

He told the panel that the money would be better spent elsewhere. He said: "I do support the idea that there needs to be a public address system in this room. But I think spending £4,000 more than is necessary on a digital sound system is wrong. That money in my view would be better spent on frontline services."

Although the recommendation was backed, members did express reservations on webcasts.

Councillor Arthur Mandry said he would rather "see the whites of people's eyes" when making a controversial decision instead of on a TV screen, adding: "I think this would be just the excuse for a good few more hair cuts and better suits."