Weymouth Council Take Meeting to the Beach

Weymouth Town Council has met on the beach following a rule that bans public meetings online.

19:30 30 June 2021

Weymouth Town Council has recently held their meeting on a beach following a ruling change that meant it could no longer hold public meetings online. 

 

The council has asked the government to give English parish and town councils the right to meet online particularly those that are currently unable to comply with Covid social distancing guidelines. 

 

On its website, the council said: "With 29 councillors and up to five officers who need to attend, space in the Weymouth council chamber would have been significantly limited and the public may not have been able to attend."

 

Town clerk Jane Biscombe said: "We're not saying we want all our meetings to be virtual. We want to have that in our toolbag to be able to use when it will enhance local democracy."

 

A spokesperson for the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government said: "The government has published updated guidance highlighting how councils can minimise the risks of face-to-face meetings and provided unprecedented emergency funding to councils to help them manage the impact of the pandemic.

 

"We are considering responses to a call for evidence on remote meetings and their use during the pandemic. We will publish our response in due course."