The Local Government Association (LGA) has said it was ‘encouraging’ that the new Government signalled an openness to discussing hybrid council meetings.
Responding to a question on remote meetings earlier this month, local government minister Jim McMahon said the Government was keen to ‘break down barriers that prevent people from seeking to serve their communities’.
He 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.’
The LGA said it was ‘glad to hear the minister’s commitment’ to this approach.
LGA chair Louise Gittens added: ‘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.’
She said councils should have the freedom to choose whether and when to allow virtual meeting attendance.
