Decision details

The Chief Executive Officer considered the report presented on how the formal meetings of the authority’s committees could be held from 21 July 2021 onwards, and having taken into account the comments made by Members at the informal meeting of the County Council Members held on 21 July 2021, resolved, under his emergency delegated powers, to approve:
• The adoption of Option 1, as outlined in para 5.7 of the report. That is to carry on holding the remote access, live broadcast informal meetings with any formal decisions required being taken by the Chief Executive Officer under his emergency decision making powers and after consultation with Officers and Members as appropriate and after taking into account any views of the relevant Committee Members.

• That the continued use of remote access, live broadcast informal meetings is reviewed in September 2021 with a further report being considered at the Council meeting on 17 November 2021.

• That the meeting of the County Council on 17 November 2021 is held as a remote access, live broadcast meeting.

• That the power be delegated to the Chief Executive Officer in Consultation with the Leader to determine which committee meetings should be held virtually and which could be held physically. As such and during this period, a face to face meeting could be held. This to be reviewed in September 2021 with a further report being considered at the Council meeting on 17 November 2021.

• that not attending a physical meeting in person for a 6 month period (as opposed to continuing to attend virtual informal meetings) will not disqualify a county councillor under the automatic vacation of office provisions set out in section 85 of the Local Government Act 1972.

By whom: Richard Flinton, Chief Executive Officer, under his emergency delegated powers and after consultation with County Council Members

PLEASE NOTE that as a non-executive decision, this decision is not open to call-in.

Under his delegated decision making powers in the Officers’ Delegation Scheme in the Council’s Constitution, the Chief Executive Officer has power, in cases of emergency, to take any decision which could be taken by the Council, the Executive or a committee.

Following on from the expiry 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 (“the 2020 Regulations”), which allowed for committee meetings to be held remotely, the County Council resolved at its meeting on 5 May 2021 that, for the present time, in light of the continuing Covid-19 pandemic circumstances, remote live-broadcast committee meetings should continue (as informal meetings of the Committee Members), with any formal decisions required being taken by the Chief Executive Officer under his emergency decision making powers and after consultation with other Officers and Members as appropriate and after taking into account any views of the relevant Committee Members. This approach to be reviewed by full Council at its July meeting.

The Chief Executive Officer considered the report presented re reviewing how the formal meetings of the authority’s committees could be held from 21 July 2021 onwards, and having taken into account the comments made by Members at the informal meeting of the County Council Members held on 21 July 2021, resolved, under his emergency delegated powers, to approve the proposal.

The alternative options considered are detailed in the report to County Council on 21 July 2021.