LOCAL TV and radio stations will be approached to see if they want to take their cameras and microphones into the Southampton council chamber.

Labour councillors backed the Tory move to create more interest in the work of the council by inviting broadcasters to cover proceedings.

Liberal Democrats voted against the move - after their amendment to ask the government to give councils back their powers was defeated.

Tory group leader Councillor Conor Burns explained the motion was designed to allow the people of Southampton to see what their council tax paid for - and to see their representatives in action.

"The people of Southampton send us here and they have the right to see us in action.

"We should also explore the possibility of carrying our debates on the World Wide Web - we could have live transmissions and edited highlights of certain debates," he said.

A working party will now be set up to explore ways of getting the council's message across to a wider audience.

Conservative councillor John Hannides added: "As a seeker of truth and community champion, I believe it is only right that the public should have a chance to see us in action.

"Unfortunately residents do not attend meetings in any great numbers. We need to take the voice of the chamber to the people and enable them to judge what is being decided on their behalf," he said.