News & Events

Listed below are the national news items and national events.

LLG Produce Revised Guidance on Meetings in Person and Hybrid Meetings
Publish date: 08/07/2020
LLG & ADSO have produced revised guidance following the The Health Protection (Coronavirus Restrictions) (No.2) (England) Regulations 2020 (“the Regulations”) which came into force on the 4 July 2020.
The LLG Awards 2020 - Recording Available Now
Publish date: 07/07/2020
If you missed The LLG Awards 2020, you can now watch a recording of the ceremony
LLG Congratulates the Finalists at the LLG Awards 2020
Publish date: 07/07/2020
The virtual LLG Awards 2020 was held on 2nd July 2020 and is now available to catch up on demand. Congratulations to all the finalists and thank you to all of you who virtually attended to hear from our corporate partners and the winners. Click to see a full list of winners and commended finalists.
The LLG Grapevine Podcast - Week 9
Publish date: 06/07/2020
Talking Law in Local Government
The LLG Grapevine Podcast - Week 8
Publish date: 30/06/2020
Talking Law in Local Government
Revitalising the High Street - The Town's Fund - Webinar 30 June 2020
Publish date: 29/06/2020
Shoosmiths are hosting a webinar on Tuesday 30 June 9.30-10.30am where they will summarise the recently published guidance from the government in relation to the £3.6bn Towns Fund which is intended to drive sustainable economic regeneration of towns across the UK.
LLG Awards 2020 Brochure Now Out!
Publish date: 24/06/2020
With all the finalists and categories included, take a look at the LLG Awards 2020 Brochure and book your place at the interactive awards event next Thursday for an immersive event with a few surprises. Who will be the winners?........
The LLG Grapevine Podcast - Week 7
Publish date: 24/06/2020
Talking Law in Local Government
Snap Shot Survey - Virtual Court Hearings
Publish date: 24/06/2020
Results from our survey to obtain membership views on the virtual court hearings.
The LLG Grapevine Podcast - Week 6
Publish date: 15/06/2020
Talking Law in Local Government

Blog

22 January 2021

Publish date: 22/01/2021

On the 6^th May 2021, the Local Authorities and Police and Crime Panels (Coronavirus) (Flexibility of Local Authority Police and Crime Panel Meetings) (England and Wales) 2020 regulations come to an end.

LLG & ADSO, together with numerous stakeholders, want to see continuing provision for local authorities to conduct meetings virtually. We do not want a situation where meetings from the 7^th May 2021 onwards to have to take place in person. We consider and indeed, the government has indicated, that we will not have returned to a pre-pandemic stage and are likely to remain under tiers for some time yet. But quite aside from the covid compliant difficulties in returning to in person meetings, a real focus here should be on the effective local democratic process, decision making and engagement advantages from the ability to hold virtual meetings. Statistics bear out that public participation in meetings have increased remarkably. There is also the long-term effect to consider; the real probability that the flexibilities afforded will attract a more diverse range of public demographic to stand as councillors. Any provision which enables equality of access, increased democratic participation and effective decision making must be retained.

Recently, the Secretary of State (Robert Jenrick) has said that whilst accepting that the provision has been successful, he has no plans to extend the date as it requires primary legislation and there is no vehicle to do that in time for May. He added that whilst it is not possible at the moment, if there is an opportunity to make it more permanent, he will take it.

LLG & ADSO have recently instructed counsel to examine this issue. We know of at least one local authority which has already received counsel's opinion, and which identifies two regulations which would give the Secretary of State powers to implement virtual meeting provisions. These are s16 Local Government Act 1999 and s15 Cities and Local Government Devolution Act 2016. The advice also included a view that the Executive or Cabinet will still be able to meet remotely (if permitted under their constitution) as Schedule 12 of the Local Government Act 1972 does not apply to the executive and there is no law which requires presence or place.

We will of course disseminate our advice to members when received next week and continue to lobby the government. In the meanwhile, if you have any members you could approach about this issue to generate support direct to Ministers this would be useful. The more noise we can make to bring collective pressure the better.

Best wishes

Helen McGrath

Helen@llg.org.uk