Virtual meetings case ‘helped’ by Jenrick move
The court case seeking to allow virtual council meetings to continue after 6 May has been strengthened by the government’s decision to support it, the two bodies involved have said.
Communities secretary Robert Jenrick said yesterday that the government would support the argument that virtual meetings were permitted by the Local Government Act 1972, despite the ‘sunset clause’ used to permit them in the coronavirus regulations ending on 6 May.
The Act allows councils freedom of action in various circumstances that could apply even though virtual meetings were not envisaged in 1972.
Lawyers in Local Government (LLG) and the Association of Democratic Services Officers (ADSO) are bringing the case as they fear the potential effects on their members’ health if they are required to attend all meetings face-to-face.