Concerns raised over return of physical council meetings

Last month, a temporary relaxation of regulations requiring council meetings to be held in physical venues expired.

The Government has decided not to renew this measure, which means all local authorities are now expected to once more hold meetings in a physical environment.

The hiring of Parr Hall for Warrington’s first in-person full council meeting in more than a year last month cost £2,000, according to council leader Cllr Russ Bowden.

Parr Hall is a bigger venue than the Town Hall, allowing tables and seats to be spaced out more amid the coronavirus pandemic.

Cllr Russ Bowden, leader of Warrington Borough Council (Image: .)

To force a rethink, Cllr Bowden, Cllr Louise Gittens of Cheshire West & Chester Council, Cllr Sam Corcoran of Cheshire East Council and Cllr Mike Wharton of Halton Borough Council have written to Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government Robert Jenrick to express their concerns over the current situation.

They have urged the Government to reinstate online meetings to reduce the risks around physical meetings while Covid-19 infections continue.

The letter highlights the significant rise in Covid-19 infection rates within Cheshire and Warrington, mainly caused by the Delta variant.

As well as the safety risks of holding physical meetings, recent weeks have seen a number of elected members being contacted by the national Track and Trace system and advised to isolate.

This means that they cannot attend council meetings.

“The current situation, with infection rates on the rise – not just in Cheshire and Warrington, but across the country - means it is premature for local authorities to have to continue with physical meetings,” Cllr Bowden said.

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“It poses major health risks at a time when we need to be doing everything we can to bring infection rates down.

“This is compounded by the fact that many of our councillors are unable to take part in meetings at all because they are self-isolating.

“Any decision which results in councillors being excluded from council meetings cannot be good for democracy and local decision making and needs to be addressed.

“We respectfully request that the Government urgently reconsiders its position and reinstates online meetings, which have proved to be very successful in conducting council business in an open and transparent manner.

“It will help us to ensure that we can continue our important local democratic processes with flexibility.”