Issue - meetings

SIX MONTH ATTENDANCE RULE (S85 (1) OF THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT ACT 1972

Meeting: 20/07/2020 - Council (Item 131)

131 SIX MONTH ATTENDANCE RULE S85 (1) OF THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT ACT 1972 pdf icon PDF 83 KB

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The first item requiring approval by the Council was in relation to section 85 (1) of the Local Government Act 1972 and the requirement of Members of the Authority to attend at least one meeting within a six month period in order to avoid being disqualified as a Councillor.

 

The Coronavirus emergency had resulted in the cancellation of a number of committees and meetings and, without prior permission to be absent, several Members would shortly fall foul of this six-month rule. Members would be able to attend meetings remotely for so long as the Regulations under the Coronavirus Act 2020 allowed, but that the nature of these meetings and other issues concerning the Coronavirus emergency introduced some concerns. Accordingly, as a safeguard, it was proposed that all Members be given permission to be absent from Council meetings for the period of the emergency.

 

On a motion by Councillor Pat Hackett, seconded by Councillor Phil Gilchrist, it was -

 

Resolved (36:0) – That the absence of any Members from all Council and Committee Meetings be authorised and approved for the period that the provisions of the Local Authorities and Police and Crime Panels (Coronavirus) (Flexibility of Local Authority and Police and Crime Panel Meetings) (England and Wales) Regulations 2020 are in force or until the Annual Meeting of Council 2021, whichever is the sooner, pursuant to Section 85 of the Local Government Act 1972.