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

To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, whether the Government has plans to bring forward legislative proposals to enable local authorities to conduct remote meetings.

We launched a call for evidence on 25 March to gather views and inform a longer-term decision about whether to make express provision for councils to meet remotely on a permanent basis. The call for evidence closed on 17 June.   The Department is reviewing the responses to the consultation and the Government will respond in due course. Any permanent change would require legislation, and would depend upon Parliamentary time being available.