A Government minister has indicated that it could reinstate the right of local authorities to run hybrid council meetings, combining physical and virtual attendance.
Jim McMahon, minister of state at the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG), stated the position at the beginning of this month in response to a parliamentary question from Liberal Democrat MP Daisy Cooper on the right of councils and other public bodies to stage the meetings.
“We are keen to break down barriers that prevent people from seeking to serve their communities,” McMahon said. “Allowing hybrid meetings could be a helpful step in doing that and we are keen to work with the sector to have an evidence based discussion about its merits.”
This has provided encouragement for advocates of hybrid meetings, who have been pressing for a change in the rule that currently requires physical attendance at statutory meetings.
Relaxation then reimposition
The previous Government relaxed the rule to allow virtual meetings during the Covid-19 lockdown of 2020-21, but reimposed it as the pandemic receded, although MHCLG also began a consultation on the issue.
This has so far not led to any change and the Local Government Association 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.
It has responded positively to McMahon’s statement. Its chair, Cllr Louise Gittings, said: “It is encouraging that the new minister has signalled he is open to looking again at flexibility around virtual attendance at council meetings – something the LGA has been calling for since 2021.
“Council meetings are an essential part of local democracy. They are where important issues are debated and decisions that impact residents' daily lives are made. So, we are glad to hear the minister’s commitment to an evidence-based approach to any legislative change.
“The legal requirement for councillors to attend meetings in person can hinder some people from fully serving their communities as councillors. Additionally, we’ve already seen how virtual meeting technologies can support democratic decision making in emergencies during the pandemic.
“Councils should be given the freedom and flexibility to choose for themselves whether and when to allow virtual attendance at their meetings.”
