Decision details

That meetings of the full Council and such other committees as the Chief Executive Officer may from time to time and in consultation with the Assistant Chief Executive (Legal and Democratic Services) and the Democratic Services and Scrutiny Manager think appropriate, be held virtually during the Covid-19 pandemic period until 7th May 2021 (the expiry of the current regulations permitting the holding of virtual committee meetings during the pandemic period).

*PLEASE NOTE This decision was originally published on or near the date of the decision and so call in no longer applies. It has been re-published as part of the change in committee management system that we use.*

Decision taken by Richard Flinton, Chief Executive Officer, under his emergency delegated powers.

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.

On 7 April 2020, the Chief Executive Officer agreed (Decision record 2020/CEO Emergency Powers/14), amongst other things, that subject to the successful adoption of a technological solution that enables the requirements laid out in the relevant regulations to be complied with, virtual meetings be introduced for the following committees (where the business either relates to the work being done by the Council in response to the Coronavirus pandemic or where a decision cannot be deferred for a compelling reason): Executive; Planning and Regulatory functions; Audit; and a sub-committee of the Pension Fund Committee. Only the Executive to meet as scheduled. The Planning and Regulatory Functions committee to meet as required to deal with urgent planning applications, Audit Committee would similarly only meet if required to make an urgent decision and Pension Fund Committee would form a sub-group to make decisions relating to changes in investment performance. All other formal, public committee meetings would be postponed until September 2020.

Given the success of the operation of the virtual formal meetings so far undertaken within the Council it is recommended that the virtual meetings’ regime previously agreed by the Chief Executive Officer be extended so that meetings of the full Council and such other committees as the Chief Executive Officer may from time to time and in consultation with the Assistant Chief Executive (Legal and Democratic Services) and the Democratic Services and Scrutiny Manager think appropriate, be held virtually during the Covid-19 pandemic period until 7th May 2021 (the expiry of the current regulations permitting the holding of virtual committee meetings during the pandemic period).