Broadmayne Council Virtual Meeting

After cancelling the April meeting due to Covid-19, Broadmayne parish pushes through with first online meeting.

05:34 14 May 2020

Broadmayne parish council has held its first online council meeting in Dorset. 

 

Just like other local councils in the United Kingdom, Broadmayne councillors were forced to cancel their April meeting after the government issued strict social distancing measures and implemented mandatory lockdown due to the Covid-19 virus. 

 

Local councils were forced to put their meetings on hold as previous laws restrict them from making a vote or deciding on issues unless they are in the same room or holding a face-to-face meeting. Since then, the government has eased up the restrictions and allowed virtual meetings. 

 

Broadmayne councillors then investigated methods of holding a meeting online. After finding the most suitable technology, they sent invitations to the public through the community website and successfully held their first virtual meeting. 

 

The historic meeting was attended by seven parish councillors and the parish clerk who were joined by three members of the public. Routine council matters where discussed while the chairman displayed details of a planning application on everyone's screen. 

 

Residents were able to participate in the discussion of Broadmayne's emergency responses to the Covid-19 crisis. They were also given the opportunity to raise other matters of concern. 

 

All those involved welcomed the initiative which will now be repeated monthly until the current restrictions are lifted.