Council meetings will go back to being in-person under strict social-distancing rules
The change is happening because emergency legislation that allowed council to host public meetings remotely expired on May 6.
Judges have ruled that a new law would have to be voted on by MPs for UK council’s to continue to hold meetings entirely online.
Despite this, some councils have said that residents wishing to speak or take part will still be able to join remotely, via tools such as Microsoft Teams or Zoom.
Other members of the public will still be able to watch live streams on Teams or YouTube.
Kensington and Chelsea Council (K&C) said its meetings will be held in its Main Hall so that there will be space for social distancing.
A K&C statement said: “Space for the public will be strictly limited under current social distancing rules.
“We are currently working on plans to facilitate public participation whilst maintaining capacity and social distancing restrictions.
“Residents can still watch the webcasts [via the council’s YouTube channel] of all our council meetings remotely, however they will be unable to participate in the meetings virtually.”
Westminster Council said it will move to a “hybrid format” and continue to also hold meetings virtually “where possible”.
A Westminster spokesperson said: “We’re keen to keep these meetings – and the decisions that are discussed and confirmed – as accessible as possible to our residents. Where possible, we will be continuing to facilitate meetings virtually.
“We will be moving to a hybrid format where key decisions are made, such as cabinet and planning meetings, in line with the law.
“This will involve councillors attending meetings physically and everyone else will be able to join virtually… members of the public will be able to join all meetings virtually.
“Physical space will also be offered to members of the public who would like to be there in person, within Covid restrictions.”
A Hammersmith and Fulham Council spokesperson, which live streams its meeting on YouTube, said: “We are still considering the implications of the recent legal case but we can reassure the public that we will comply with the legislation.”
The City of London Corporation’s meetings will still be live streamed and available for the public to access virtually.
Main Picture: Councillor Rachael Robathan at March 2020 budget meeting at Marylebone Town Hall.
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