Photo: Bristol City Council

English cities to hold public meetings remotely

15 April 2020

by Jonathan Andrews

The UK government has given new powers to local authorities in England to hold public meetings virtually by using video or telephone conferencing technology.

The government has temporarily removed the legal requirement for local authorities to hold public meetings in person during the coronavirus pandemic. 

“Local authorities are the backbone of our democracy and they are playing a vital role in the national effort to keep people safe,” said Robert Jenrick, Local Government Secretary. “This change will support them to do that while maintaining the transparency we expect in local decision making.”

The change covers all categories of public meetings including annual meetings, cabinet and committee meetings, and extends to Police and Crime Panels in England and Wales.

Public meetings must remain accessible to the public 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.

The change in the law has been largely welcomed by local governments across England with some calling for the change to remain in place.

Brigid Jones, Councillor and Deputy Leader for Birmingham City Council, told Cities Today that many cities had been calling for a change in the law pre-COVID-19.

“We’ve seen examples of pregnant women and new mothers excluded from carrying out their roles because of the ban, and the inflexibility has stopped a lot of working-age people juggling multiple jobs from being able to play a full role as a councillor,” she said.

Jones added that it was “a shame” it took the coronavirus pandemic to force the issue.

“Now that it’s been proven that you can carry out transparent, public democracy through technology, this change needs to stay.”

Bristol and Leeds are expected to hold their first remote public meetings on 22 April.

A spokesperson from Leeds City Council said that 14,000 of its staff are working securely from home and that the city council is “continuing to explore the best way of conducting a wide range of public council meetings remotely, reliably and safely”.

Bristol City Council will explore a number ways for voting to take place during a public meeting either using Zoom’s built-in polling system, by a show of hands, or by roll call at Full Council and proceedings will be broadcast live on YouTube.

“Technology really has come to our aid here, giving us the opportunity to continue vital council operations while also observing social distancing guidance,” said Marvin Rees, Mayor of Bristol. “Using video conferencing will enable the process for decision-making to be made remotely in a way that is lawful, transparent and fair.”

In line with statutory requirements and existing procedures, the press and members of the public will not be able to access meetings considering items that are exempt because of commercial confidentiality or other considerations.

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.

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