If you’re struggling for something to do these long winter evenings – here’s an idea.

Log in and listen to Worcester City Council’s meetings.

Councillors at the Guildhall’s Policy and Resources Committee voted to spend just under £4,000 on equipment to allow meetings to be broadcast on the web – but only the audio.

They turned down options to webcast pictures of the meeting which could have cost significantly more.

The other two choices were a mobile pictures and sound system at a cost of £20,000 in the first year and £13,000 annual costs to lease, or a fixed audio visual system that would cost a hefty £51,000 to set up for the first year and then £14,000 every year after that.

The city council’s deputy leader, Councillor Mark Bayliss said: “I think we should take this a bite at a time – we’ll start with audio- get what we can and take it from there.

“I think we will end up with a visual option, but we can start with just audio.”

Council leader Councillor Adrian Gregson added: “I’d like us to move forward with this and audio seems a good first step.”

Some councillors were keen to expand the access of people to council proceedings and saw webcasting as a way of making the authority’s work more transparent to people who can’t or don’t want to travel to attend meetings.

Councillor Lucy Hodgson said: “Audio is a minimum and I’d also look at the microphones. We need a system that is fit for purpose.”

Councillor Roger Knight expressed doubts that the people of Worcester would want more money spent on video webcasting equipment- which he called ‘CCTV’. He said: “I think we should ask the people what they want.

“I don’t think most people would want us to spend such large amounts on CCTV. So, yes, let’s have an audio system but not CCTV until we know that the people want it.”

Another member of the committee, Councillor Mike Johnson asked: “What are we trying to achieve? How do we measure success? I’m not clear about what we’re trying to do apart from being ‘transparent’.

“If the public aren’t interested in listening to our meetings, why would we spend this money?”

The committee suggested that planning and licensing committee meetings be webcast as well as full council meetings as it felt they are often more directly relevant to the public.

You’ll be able to listen to meetings via a link on the city council’s website at www.worcester.gov.uk

Worcestershire County Council has webcast meetings from County Hall’s council chamber since 2011.