Scarborough councillors are expected to vote out paper today and conduct future meetings to the gentle tapping of iPads and the like.

A report to the Yorkshire resort's cabinet from the council's head of legal and support services Ian Anderson says that the move would save approaching £10,000 a year.

Not to mention the trees (and Scarborough has recently shown itself to be valiant on trees, by trying to save the one which protestors famously occupied at Irton, as much-described in previous Northerners).

At the moment the long lists of meeting agendas, reports to committees and minutes are produced on paper and posted to councillors. The new system proposes issuing iPads all round to give members direct electronic access.

Councillors have previously been issued with laptops to encourage forward thinking and reduce paper, but tablet versions are seen as more user-friendly. The report highlights the fact that they are lightweight, allow users to make notes easily and will have 3G, making them usable on the move or in areas which do not have wifi access.

Anderson says:

The council is always looking at providing efficient methods of communications with its elected members and the introduction of tablet devices is the next phase of development in doing this. The provision of this equipment will radically cut down on the production of paper agendas, which includes printing and postage costs and will provide a more efficient way for councillors to work.

Leicester has led the way in moving to tablet computers with Bassetlaw in Nottinghamshire also voting last year to trial a scheme.

Maybe it will also renew younger people's interest in civic engagement, and encourage them to seek office or otherwise get involved.