Issue - meetings
Physical, Hybrid and Virtual Committee meetings
Meeting: 24/06/2021 - General Purposes Committee (Item 5)
5 Physical, Hybrid and Virtual Committee meetings PDF 435 KB
Additional documents:
Minutes:
Matthew Mannion, Head of Democratic Services, introduced the report and briefly detailed a summary of the meeting options and recommendations for the future of physical/hybrid/virtual meetings.
It was noted that during the Covid-19 pandemic the Council had made use of the extensive powers from the Coronavirus Bill to operate virtual council and committee meetings. Those regulations had now expired and the Council had reverted to holding physical meetings with some features of virtual meetings having remained. It was noted that this was a good opportunity for Members to give a steer on how future meetings should continue following the lifting of Covid restrictions.
The Committee welcomed the initial research and findings detailed in the report. Members acknowledged the good work undertaken, and emphasised how over the past year, technology had proven to be effective, allowing flexibility especially for those with carer responsibilities, and increasing participation at meetings. It was noted that Option B - hybrid meetings, is the type of meetings that should be explored and developed further as it allowed a greater deal of flexibility for all participants at meetings.
Clarification was sought in regard to voting at meetings, Mr Mannion explained that the Local Government Act 1972 specified clearly that Members physically present at a meeting only have voting rights. However, it was noted that Government had recently undertook consultation on this matter, and LBTH had responded as did other authorities to allow provisions for voting in virtual settings subject to safeguards, and the outcome of the consultation was still pending.
Mr Mannion encouraged Members of the Committee to contact him if they had any further feedback over the next few weeks.
Accordingly, the General Purposes Committee;
RESOLVED
1. The report be noted.
2. Officers to develop the meeting procedure rules with Option B (hybrid) settings and for it to be reported back to a future meeting of the Committee.