Brent Council will become the first local authority in London to broadcast live web streams of key meetings.

Residents will be able to view events as they happen from the comfort of their homes from next Monday.

They can also tweet their views while they watch and councillors will reply directly.

The initiative will be launched to mark Local Democracy Week when the council web streams a special Question Time-style evening in the Drum within the civic centre.

The initiative, which is free to all viewers, is being promoted via a trailer called ‘Drama in the Drum’ which will be shown at the Lexi Cinema in Kensal Rise, and the Tricycle Theatre, in Kilburn.

Cllr James Denselow, Brent Council’s lead member for customers and citizens, said: “It is crucial for a healthy democracy that residents are aware of what their representatives are discussing at the civic centre.

“I hope that being able to watch council meetings from the comfort of your own home encourages more residents to get involved and use social media to contribute to the debate.”

People watching the webcasts will be able to tweet @Brent_Council using special hashtags and will see their tweets published by the council alongside the live broadcast.

The webcast, which will include full council meetings, is costing nothing extra for council tax payers.

The council also claim the film was made at zero cost to tax payers.

The Question Time-style evening starts at 5pm and will debate the future of local democracy and active citizenship.

Webcasts will be at www.brent.gov.uk/democracy and questions can be submitted in advance on Twitter with the hashtag #QuestionTimeBrent.