'Physical Presence' Needed At Council Meetings, High Court Rules

Friday, 7 May 2021 06:00

By Karen Dunn - Local Democracy Reporter

A High Court ruling that virtual council meetings cannot continue without a change in the law has seen West Sussex County Council pull out its contingency plan.

When the pandemic hit, the government introduced temporary legislation to allow local authority meetings to be held online, in line with social distancing regulations.

Many hoped this legislation would see out the pandemic and perhaps stay for good. But it expires today (Friday, 7 May) and a legal challenge from an alliance of local government officers and lawyers was dismissed, with judges deciding a ‘physical presence’ at meetings was needed.

In March, the council agreed contingency arrangements for just this outcome and they will come into play after the elections until social distancing regulations are dropped.

A spokesman said: “During these unusual times the ability to move face-to-face meetings onto a virtual platform has allowed for continued democratic visibility and accountability as well as making sure that staff and councillors remain safe and well during the pandemic.

“As the outcome from the High Court judgement has ruled that meetings now need to be held in person again, we will be implementing our plans to allow the necessary meetings to happen in person in a Covid-secure and safe way for all attending.”

Space will be made at County Hall for a quorum of members – 18 for full council and one-quarter for council and committee meetings – along with a ‘reasonable’ number of press and public as well as council officers.

Council chamber at West Sussex County Council, Chichester

The councillors who do attend will have been nominated by political group leaders and there will be a proportional number from each group. All other councillors will be able to participate virtually but will not be allowed to vote.

The council has webcast its larger meetings for a while now – but the need to move over to virtual meetings during the pandemic saw a huge increase in the number of people who watched the goings-on at County Hall.

In 2019/20, a total of 555 people watched the six full council meetings and 218 watched the five cabinet meetings. In 2020/21, that figure rose to 4,294 views and 3,560 views respectively.