Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what assessment his Department has made of the potential effect of returning to in-person local council meetings during the outbreak of covid-19 on wide and full participation in those meetings.

The Government issued Covid-19 guidance to ensure local council meetings take place safely. The guidance actively encourages local authorities to continue to provide remote public access until 19 July, at which point it is anticipated that restrictions on indoor gatherings will be lifted. It is for local authorities to satisfy themselves they have met the necessary requirements and apply the Covid-19 guidance to ensure meetings take place safely.

However, we recognise there may continue to be concerns about the potential risks of holding face-to-face meetings. The Government continues to work with sector representative bodies to ensure that local authorities understand the guidance and are aware of the full range of options available to them.