Labour-Independent controlled Cheshire East Council have released a press release triumphally announcing that CEC will “…support a national petition calling on Government to allow councils to decide for themselves whether to meet remotely”, This followed a Notice of Motion brought to February’s council by Cllr Sam Corcoran (Labour Leader) and Cllr Craig Browne (Dep Leader: Independent).
No-one disputes remote meetings during the pandemic, were and remain, a valuable way of conducting local council business, reducing travel time, travel costs, enabling participation and keeping us safe.
But the Petition proposed by the Association of Democratic Services Officers (ADSO)and Lawyers in Local Government (LLG) is flawed stating firstly that “Currently, local councils in England cannot hold their meetings remotely”.
This is untrue.
Councils increasingly work ‘remotely’ (and legally), with all the benefits listed in the petition. Emergency legislation that the High Court refused to reinstate last year, relates ONLY to significant statutory and quasi-judicial decision-making meetings that must be held in person.
Secondly, the Labour/Independent coalition want the law changed to allow councils the flexibility to hold such meetings “when they deem appropriate within agreed rules and procedures.” – worrying when the DSO and LLG fail to explain what is ‘appropriate’ or who is going to agree the rules!
Finally, there’s the money.
Last year, remote working and lower travel costs saved CEC £500k. Last week’s budget identified further savings of £758k next year. But at this week’s Corporate Policy Committee, the update on Workforce Efficiencies revealed that only around £610k was currently accounted for.
If the petition succeeds, Planning, Licensing and decision-making meetings held remotely, may be vulnerable to legal challenge.
Where Councils design meeting rules they deem ‘appropriate’, democratic accountability is threatened.
What the Press Release does NOT say is that this Motion got through by just ONE vote."
