Image source: UK Parliament, CC BY 3.0
The Government has taken steps towards once again allowing local authorities to run hybrid council meetings, combining physical and virtual attendance.
Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner confirmed the plan in a speech and the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) has launched a new consultation on the plan.
Speaking at the Local Government Association’s (LGA) conference in Harrogate last week, Rayner said the step would be one of a raft of measures to give councils new powers and more freedom in how they work.
“It’s not our place, for example, to decide whether councillors should attend your meetings remotely or use proxy votes when they need to,” she said.
“So, I can announce today that we’re putting forward proposals to let councils make the decision for themselves.
“Which means making it possible for people from all walks of life to have a stake in local democracy, whether they have caring responsibilities or aren’t able to make it to the town hall in person because of illness or disability.”
Practical issues
The consultation, which will run until 19 December, is seeking views on the detail and practical implementation of new rules. It is based on the proposal to give local authorities the flexibility to allow remote attendance at meetings, on the understanding that this would make them more resilient and encourage a more diverse representation of different groups on councils.
Questions include whether there should be specific limitations on remote attendance, how often respondents would take part in a meeting remotely, and what procedural measures could be needed to make the policy workable and efficient.
The previous Government relaxed the rule requiring physical attendance at statutory meetings to allow virtual meetings during the Covid-19 lockdown of 2020-21, but reimposed it as the pandemic receded.
MHCLG launched a consultation on the issue in 2021, so far this has not led to any change.
LGA support
The Local Government Association (LGA) has been pressing for the reintroduction of hybrid meetings. Last year it produced the results of a survey of its members showing strong support for the change.
The LGA has expressed its support for the Government’s latest move. Its chair, Cllr Louise Gittins, said: “The LGA looks forward to working with the Government to ensure that proposals on councillor standards, declaring home addresses, and making sure virtual attendance at council meetings works and is in the interest of councils and their communities.”
The National Association of Local Councils – the organisation for town and parish councils – also welcomed the development and urged members to participate in the public consultation.
