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

To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of powers under the Coronavirus Act 2020 to enable councils to hold remote meetings; and whether they plan to change the Local Government Act 1972 to allow councils to retain these powers beyond the COVID-19 pandemic.

Local authorities have responded magnificently to the challenge of ensuring vital council business continues by conducting council meetings remotely during these unprecedented times.

It is widely acknowledged that the remote meetings regulations have helped local authorities?to?make business critical decisions in a democratic way whilst protecting the health and safety of their members, officers and the public.

Government will be considering carefully the case for extending these regulations as necessary in the coming months.