Councils given new powers to meet remotely
One consequence of the tragic position we are in with Coronavirus is that councils have finally been given from tomorrow a power which we should have had decades ago - to hold meetings remotely using electronic means where this is appropriate.
The power is temporary, but when all this is over I very much hope that it will not be taken away, at least not completely as there are clearly circumstances where this would improve the functioning of local authorities providing the right measures are taken to make what has been said available to the public.
The government has announced today that local authorities in England have been handed new powers to hold public meetings virtually by using video or telephone conferencing technology from Saturday (4 April 2020).
The government has temporarily removed the legal requirement for local authorities to hold public meetings in person during the coronavirus pandemic. This will enable councils to make effective and transparent decisions on the delivery of services for residents and ensure that local democracy continues to thrive.
Meetings will remain accessible whilst ensuring that councillors, staff and the wider public are able to follow government advice by staying at home to stop the spread of coronavirus to protect the NHS and save lives.
Local Government Secretary Robert Jenrick MP said:
Local Government Association Chairman Cllr James Jamieson said:
The change applies to all local authorities in England and covers all categories of public meetings including annual meetings, cabinet and committee meetings.
The requirement for public meetings to be made accessible to the public remains, but it will be up to each local authority to decide how they conduct meetings, how voting procedures work and how to ensure that the public has access.
Other relevant news:
The government is also working to bring in new law so that by-elections, local polls and referendums cannot be held before 6 May 2021. The Coronavirus Act 2020 has already postponed local and Police and Crime Commissioner elections scheduled in the UK for Thursday 7 May 2020 until 6 May 2021.
More detail of both these announcements on the government website here.
The power is temporary, but when all this is over I very much hope that it will not be taken away, at least not completely as there are clearly circumstances where this would improve the functioning of local authorities providing the right measures are taken to make what has been said available to the public.
The government has announced today that local authorities in England have been handed new powers to hold public meetings virtually by using video or telephone conferencing technology from Saturday (4 April 2020).
The government has temporarily removed the legal requirement for local authorities to hold public meetings in person during the coronavirus pandemic. This will enable councils to make effective and transparent decisions on the delivery of services for residents and ensure that local democracy continues to thrive.
Meetings will remain accessible whilst ensuring that councillors, staff and the wider public are able to follow government advice by staying at home to stop the spread of coronavirus to protect the NHS and save lives.
Local Government Secretary Robert Jenrick MP said:
- "Local authorities are the backbone of our democracy and they are playing a vital role in the national effort to keep people safe. This change will support them to do that while maintaining the transparency we expect in local decision making.
- Councillors and staff are already doing the right thing by following our advice to stay home, protect the NHS and save lives. This includes working from home wherever possible, and the new powers to hold meetings virtually will make that easier.
- It’s critical that they continue to provide essential services and find innovative ways to maintain important economic functions they perform like the planning system and they will now be able to do so.
- We’ve given local authorities across England an additional £1.6 billion to help their crucial work in the national effort against coronavirus, and we are continuing to ensure they get all of the support that they need at this time."
Local Government Association Chairman Cllr James Jamieson said:
- "Councils are working tirelessly to support their communities as they rise to the unprecedented challenge of the coronavirus crisis.
- Giving councils powers to hold meetings remotely is important to maintaining local democracy and allowing critical decisions to be made during this public health crisis.
- Councils need to respond quickly and make very many key decisions. They can now do so while remaining open, transparent and accessible to the public.
- Remote council meetings will crucially help ensure all those taking part stay at home, helping to prevent the coronavirus from spreading and save lives."
The change applies to all local authorities in England and covers all categories of public meetings including annual meetings, cabinet and committee meetings.
The requirement for public meetings to be made accessible to the public remains, but it will be up to each local authority to decide how they conduct meetings, how voting procedures work and how to ensure that the public has access.
Other relevant news:
The government is also working to bring in new law so that by-elections, local polls and referendums cannot be held before 6 May 2021. The Coronavirus Act 2020 has already postponed local and Police and Crime Commissioner elections scheduled in the UK for Thursday 7 May 2020 until 6 May 2021.
More detail of both these announcements on the government website here.
Comments
Though really from the actions of different governments attempting to deal with it, the director of Zoom must think it's awesome. Must have made absolute record subscription sales. My gym uses it at the moment for workouts, been to quizzes on it, had many meetings on it.
The fact is though it works and it works quite well. I cant see a bad thing about it. It saves money in travel, also no meeting room required improves safety as no need to travel.
Public access, different licences allow for different numbers of participants, but I have been on with 350 at a conference. Also zoom meetings can be recorded and can be uploaded to you tube. Allowing a much wider audience than current arrangements.
If the pm can chair meetings using it, then CBC can too
However, the council has in many respects improved immensely under the mayoral system. If you have a specific suggestion as to how it is failing to comply with the law, let's hear the details. If you can't provide them, vague allegations are not terribly useful.
With regard to remote working:
Companies like BT and Openreach have been holding meetings using conferfence calls by conventional line, skype for Business and other such systems for two decades. If you have the will to make it work, you can do it.
By changing the law from today giving councils the power to hold meetings remotely the government has removed the last credible excuse not to do so.
Let's get on with it.
So is the idea that 5G masts have anything to do with the spread of Coronaviruses.
Don't know where these stupid conspiracy theories come from but I wish the people who make them up and spread them would start using their brains and stop doing so.