MELKSHAM Without Parish Council has signed a petition calling for councils to be allowed to host meetings online.
The parish council say that online meetings allows more flexibility about how they meet, and can help create more opportunities for people to get involved in local democracy.
The parish council explains, “Councils were temporarily able to hold meetings remotely through the Coronavirus Act 2020, which was implemented by the Government in response to Covid in 2020. However, the ability for councils to hold meetings remotely, was rescinded in April 2021.
“Councils have been campaigning for the reintroduction of the legislation to allow local councils to hold remote meetings, as they found more people attended remote meetings, to watch democracy in action than previously, and feel it is important that people continue to have this opportunity.
“Melksham Without Parish Council recognises that the ability to hold remote meetings will enable council meetings to take place in unforeseen circumstances i.e. snowstorms (remember the Beast from the East in 2018), a fuel crisis, or future lockdowns.
“The parish council would also like the ability for councils (at their discretion) to allow individual councillors who find themselves unable to attend a meeting in person for a specific reason, to attend remotely and be able to vote. The council sees this as a good way of having the opportunity for future councillors to come from a more diverse background as would enable attendance by those who have carer or single parent responsibilities, who work away, who need to self-isolate, who need to shield (before a hospital appointment for example, or due to a compromised immune system) or are unable to drive temporarily.
“The parish council understands the concerns of Government that councillors could live abroad and not be part of their local community, but giving the council the ability to make this decision themselves means that the individual circumstances and setting can be taken into account. They clearly understand that decisions made at council meetings are legally binding, but so too are decisions made in Magistrates Courts, who still have the ability to meet remotely and see this as a comparative measure.
“If you feel such legislation provides better access to local democracy, please sign the petition.”
The petition is supported by the Association of Democratic Services (ADSO) and Lawyers in Local Government LLG, who are asking the Government and Parliament to allow legislation to enable councils to meet remotely. To support the petition, visit the website: www.change. org/p/uk-government-and-parliament-for-councils-in-england-to-have-the-choice-to-meet-remotely
