Deliberately trying to catch out councillors by filming them without warning is wrong, according to a member of Haworth, Cross Roads and Stanbury Parish Council.

Members were debating legislation designed to ensure transparency in local government, which will allow people to film in council meetings.

Coun Peter Hill said he had recommended to the Yorkshire Local Councils Association that people wanting to film should notify council members of their intentions. “Using filming to belittle somebody is wrong,” he said.

Council chairman Coun John Huxley said: “We’re here to serve democracy in a small part of West Yorkshire. If someone wants to film us, and they think that’s interesting, then good luck to them.”

He noted Haworth, Cross Roads and Stanbury had not experienced the same issues as Keighley Town Council, which was last year embroiled in a bitter dispute with parishioners who wanted to film town council meetings.