Gwent Councils to Hold Remote Meetings?

Existing Welsh Government regulations must be revised in order for Gwent council to hold their meetings remotely.

07:15 27 March 2020

Due to the coronavirus outbreak, many Welsh county councils are turning to online tools to hold their meetings. One of the first to do such is Powys County Council, which held a remote meeting via Microsoft Teams last week. 

 

The Welsh Government permits local councils to hold meetings remotely so long as they meet certain conditions - these include the ability to see and hear and to be seen and heard by members in attendance. 

 

However, under their existing law, major decisions cannot be made or voted through in remote meetings. 

 

Thus, in order for Gwent council to take their meetings online, it is important that the Welsh Government be more flexible with operations and grant councillors voting powers when meeting online. 

 

Local authorities say that there seem to be no other recourse, at least until the Covid-9 crisis pass, because councillors risk their health and their loved ones by going to town halls for meetings.