Virtual meetings may keep Sunderland City Council operating during pandemic

City bosses have welcomed new rules which could allow them to relax emergency powers put in place to deal with coronavirus.
A Sunderland City Council meeting held with smaller numbers of councillors to aid social-distancingA Sunderland City Council meeting held with smaller numbers of councillors to aid social-distancing
A Sunderland City Council meeting held with smaller numbers of councillors to aid social-distancing

But changes to regulations allowing committee meetings to be held virtually, rather than in person, could pave the way for responsibilities to be handed back to councillors during the lockdown.

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Graeme Miller, leader of the city council, said: “In recent weeks, many people will have become more used to remote working and conference calls with colleagues as we all practise social distancing and follow Government guidance on staying at home and avoiding unnecessary travel.

“This update to legislation is recognition from central government that, even with COVID-19, council decision-making must be able to continue.

“We are now preparing for holding more meetings virtually by using telephone and video conference technology.”

Earlier in April, the Government removed requirements for physical attendance at local authority meetings.

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The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) says the new rules will ensure ‘effective and transparent’ decision-making during the COVID-19 lockdown.

But although it will be up to individual councils to decide how voting and debate will take place, they have also been told to make sure virtual meetings are also accessible to the public.

Local Government Secretary, Robert Jenrick MP, said: “Local authorities are the backbone of our democracy and they are playing a vital role in the national effort to keep people safe.

“This change will support them to do that while maintaining the transparency we expect in local decision making.

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Councillors and staff are already doing the right thing by following our advice to stay home, protect the NHS and save lives.

“This includes working from home wherever possible, and the new powers to hold meetings virtually will make that easier.

“It’s critical that they continue to provide essential services and find innovative ways to maintain important economic functions they perform like the planning system and they will now be able to do so.”