Issue - meetings

Report of Director Law and Governance & Monitoring Officer

Purpose of report

To advise Council of proposed temporary changes necessary for the effective running of remote meetings during the restrictions brought about by the corona virus pandemic. The changes are in line with, and give practical effect to, The Local Authorities and Police and Crime Panels (Coronavirus) (Flexibility of Local Authority and Police and Crime Panel Meetings) (England and Wales) Regulations 2020 that came into force on 4 April 2020. The Regulations enable all local authority meetings before 7 May 2021 to be held remotely and removes the requirement for the annual meeting this year.

Recommendations

The meeting is recommended:

 1.1         To note the Virtual Meetings Procedure Rules (Appendix 1) and Councillor Protocol for Virtual Meetings (Appendix 2) that the Monitoring Officer has drafted following publication of The Local Authorities and Police and Crime Panels (Coronavirus) (Flexibility of Local Authority and Police and Crime Panel Meetings) (England and Wales) Regulations 2020 to give effect to the principles of open decision making and public engagement.

1.2          To agree to postpone the holding of an Annual Council meeting until the scheduled Annual Council meeting in May 2021.

1.3          To authorise the Monitoring Officer, in consultation with the Chairman of Council, to make minor changes to the process and, as necessary, the Constitution in in light of the practical experience of remote working and virtual meetings.

Resolved

(1)           That the Virtual Meetings Procedure Rules (annex to the Minutes as set out in the Minute Book) and Councillor Protocol for Virtual Meetings (annex to the Minutes as set out in the Minute Book) that the Monitoring Officer has drafted following publication of The Local Authorities and Police and Crime Panels (Coronavirus) (Flexibility of Local Authority and Police and Crime Panel Meetings) (England and Wales) Regulations 2020 to give effect to the principles of open decision making and public engagement be noted.

(2)           That it be agreed to postpone the holding of an Annual Council meeting until the scheduled Annual Council meeting in May 2021.

(3)           That the Monitoring Officer, in consultation with the Chairman of Council, be authorised to make minor changes to the process and, as necessary, the Constitution in in light of the practical experience of remote working and virtual meetings.

The Director Law and Governance & Monitoring Officer submitted a report to  advise Council of proposed temporary changes necessary for the effective running of remote meetings during the restrictions brought about by the corona virus pandemic. The changes were in line with, and gave practical effect to, The Local Authorities and Police and Crime Panels (Coronavirus) (Flexibility of Local Authority and Police and Crime Panel Meetings) (England and Wales) Regulations 2020 that came into force on 4 April 2020. The Regulations enabled all local authority meetings before 7 May 2021 to be held remotely and removed the requirement for the annual meeting this year.

Resolved

(1)           That the Virtual Meetings Procedure Rules (annex to the Minutes as set out in the Minute Book) and Councillor Protocol for Virtual Meetings (annex to the Minutes as set out in the Minute Book) that the Monitoring Officer has drafted following publication of The Local Authorities and Police and Crime Panels (Coronavirus) (Flexibility of Local Authority and Police and Crime Panel Meetings) (England and Wales) Regulations 2020 to give effect to the principles of open decision making and public engagement be noted.

(2)           That it be agreed to postpone the holding of an Annual Council meeting until the scheduled Annual Council meeting in May 2021.

(3)           That the Monitoring Officer, in consultation with the Chairman of Council, be authorised to make minor changes to the process and, as necessary, the Constitution in in light of the practical experience of remote working and virtual meetings.