At a meeting today (Wednesday), at least two councillors were unable to ask questions to officials via Microsoft Teams due to issues with their microphones.

Speaking during the meeting, city treasurer Ricky Bell, SNP, said the situation was “absolutely unacceptable”. 

He added: “It really isn’t on that this is the level that we are at, where councillors, the democratically elected members of this committee, are being prevented from asking questions because we can’t provide the technology.”

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The affected councillors had to submit questions via email or the chatbox on Teams. It is understood there is a currently undiagnosed problem with equipment in the room used to host hybrid meetings.

Cllr Bell said: “We need to relook at the rules of the council and say that the default, in an event like this, should be that we have an in-person only meeting because this is just absolutely unacceptable.”

Bailie Soryia Siddique, Labour, who was chairing the operational performance and delivery scrutiny committee, added: “It is very concerning, we are the largest local authority in Scotland and this is the level of communication tools that we have got available to us. It’s just not acceptable.”

She had earlier asked what options were available to two councillors who were “unable to engage in the meeting with the IT difficulties that they are experiencing”. She said their microphones weren’t working. 

A council official said: “If a councillor does wish to come in and they’ve got problems with their comms, they could possibly use the chat function or they can either email myself or you [Bailie Siddique] and we can speak on their behalf. We unfortunately don’t have another option.”

Bailie Martha Wardrop added: “It’s concerning, I just think there needs to be more support through the support officers to check everyone’s laptops. I’ve certainly had good support with my issues.”

Contractors and suppliers will carry out further testing this week in an effort to resolve the problem in the meeting room. Officers will speak to councillors about what the default option for meetings should be if there are future issues.

A council spokesman said: “We have been experiencing an intermittent failure of some of the committee room equipment, which has led us to temporarily move some meetings — which would have been hybrid — entirely online.

“Unfortunately, some members have then experienced connection problems while trying to take part remotely.”