During the coronavirus pandemic, the Government has temporarily removed the legal requirement for local authorities to hold public meetings in person. This means that councils have powers to hold public meetings virtually by using video or telephone conferencing technology.
Holding council meetings virtually requires a different approach and skills. On this page you will find details about the details about regulations as well as guidance about some of the practicalities and etiquette required when holding remote council meetings from our partners, which councils will find helpful for both officers and councillors.
If you have any guidance you would like to share with the sector, please email it to thomas.denman@local.gov.uk
Letter from Cllr James Jamieson, Chairman of the LGA, to Rt Hon Robert Jenrick, Secretary of State, MHCLG, and Chloe Smith MP, Minister for the Constitution, Cabinet Office, 12 October 2020 (pdf 128KB)
- Local Authorities and Police and Crime Panels: Regulations
- Lawyers in Local Government (LLG) and the Association of Democratic Services Officers (ADSO): Guidance and regulations
- Socitm (Society for Innovation, Technology and Modernisation): Guide to delivering remote meetings
- Centre for Public Scrutiny: Tips for councillors on behaviour an etiquette
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Tips for councils and councillors on behaviour and etiquette
- London Office of Technology & Innovation: How to hold online meetings accessible to the public
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Guidance on how to hold online committee meetings that are accessible to the public
- Richmond and Wandsworth Councils: Virtual meetings on iPads
- National Association for Local Councils (NALC): Guidance and regulations
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Guidance from The National Association of Local Councils (NALC) for parish and town councils
Legal briefing on the Regulations (April 2020) for parish and town councils
- Newark and Sherwood District Council Remote Council Meeting Protocol
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Newark and Sherwood District Council Remote Council Meeting Protocol
- Planning Advisory Service: Virtual Planning Committee Guidance
- Cyber Security Guidance: Government Digital Service (GDS): Using Zoom securely
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How to set up and use Zoom in a more secure way
- Welsh Local Government Association (WLGA): Regulations
COVID-19: good council practice
Councils are doing remarkable work to address COVID-19, pooling resources, responding to new problems and coming up with creative solutions, including to recovery and renewal.
Hybrid Council Meetings
Coronavirus: information for councils
Useful information for councils on novel coronavirus (COVID-19).
COVID-19 outbreak - councillor guidance
This guidance has been developed to assist elected councillors as councils grapple with the worst public health crisis we have experienced in a century.
COVID-19: councillor resources
Coronavirus information and guidance for councillors.