Thread: The Govt says councils have to resume face to face meetings from May 8.
They can no longer hold them online
A legal challenge to this has been lost
Now @LGAcomms says many councils will have to use very large external venues to enable all councillors to meet in person

The @LGAcomms says “It is very disappointing that this last avenue to allow councils to hold online and hybrid meetings whilst Covid restrictions are still in force has not been successful...

"A recent LGA survey found 83 per cent of councils said they would be very likely or fairly likely to conduct meetings both online and in a hybrid way once the coronavirus emergency was over if they had the power...

"The current flexibility has been paramount in allowing access for both councillors and the public into meetings. Many councils have seen significantly increased participation by the public in meetings. Councils want the flexibility to continue to meet in this way"

Sheffield councillors said returning to the Town Hall so soon is an "unnecessary risk" https://www.thestar.co.uk/news/politics/sheffield-councillors-say-return-to-town-hall-meetings-is-unnecessary-risk-and-damages-democracy-3182029