‘Utterly Absurd’ that Remote Council Meetings No Longer Permitted, Say Bedford Borough Liberal Democrats
From today, May 7th, councils in England are no longer permitted to hold meetings remotely, after the Government did not legislate to extend their ability to do so and a High Court Claim to establish councils' ongoing legal right to do so was lost. Bedford Borough Liberal Democrat Group Leader Cllr Christine McHugh has commented on the 'utterly absurd' circumstances that see Councils compelled to meet in-person even while indoor gatherings are still banned on public health grounds, while also warning that progress in public access and participation in Council meetings held remotely is at risk of being lost.
Cllr McHugh said: "It is utterly absurd that even at a time while indoor gatherings are still banned on public health grounds, Councils can now no longer hold remote meetings. Remote meetings have enabled safe participation in and access to meetings for residents, officers and elected representatives during the pandemic, which the government itself knows very well is not over.'
"For it to effectively ban these meetings now is ludicrous. It directly contradicts the clear public health messages, and could set back the encouraging progress in public participation and increased access we have witnessed."
The High Court claim was brought by Hertfordshire County Council, the Association of Democratic Services Officers and Lawyers in Local Government, and sought a declaration from the court that uses of the word 'meeting' in local government legislation can be read as referring to virtual meetings as well as in-person meetings.
However, the High Court ruled that existing legislation does not allow meetings to be held virtually. This means that primary legislation, which to date the government has not pursued, is required before further remote or 'hybrid' in-person/remote council meetings can take place.
The requirement for councils to recommence in-person comes at a time when indoor events and gatherings are still prohibited under the Government's Coronavirus Roadmap. Meanwhile, MPs retain the right to participate in House of Commons proceedings remotely until at least June 21st.