Is it legal to hold a virtual meeting after 7th May 2021?

Question

Hello Experienced Councillors

(I call you all that in comparison to me who will take his first ever seat in 3 days time.)

I understand that the government are "in consultation" over virtual meetings at present but the Council I am joining is "run" by those who would benefit from holding one as soon as possible. Without irrelevent details, it will allow the re-election of the current, "puppet" Chair by his supporters who, they say, for medical reasons will not attend a physical meeting. If that is indeed the case and virtual meetings are not allowed, the "balance of power" will shift and a less biased Chair appointed for the coming year.

Does anyone have an opinion as to how quickly a formal decision on the issue will be made? I fear if it is not done within the next 10 days, for my Council at least, the question will be moot.....

Secondly, if the virtual meeting goes ahead, when the decisions taken at it come up for "ratification" at the physical meeting a week later, can the Councillors at that meeting overturn the vote taken at the virtual one?

Oh what tangled web we weave.....

Answer 1

You must hold your annual meeting in May and you must give three working days' notice, effectively nearer a week, unless you meet on a Thursday or Friday. The Government has not extended the previous provisions to hold virtual meetings and is currently seeking views on introducing further legislation in the future. This will not benefit us during the next three weeks. It's face to face, socially-distanced, in a suitable venue for the members of the council and the clerk, with the somewhat complicated option of broadcasting it live to the general public rather than allowing them to attend in person.

Comments

As a question of the answer rather than an answer to the question - Dave, “... allowing them [the public] to attend...”

On what basis would you suggest there is any authority to exclude public attendance?

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There is no authority to exclude the public, but the recommedation is that their attendance should be virtual until Boris's five steps to freedom allow unhindered public access to the room in which the meeting is taking place.