News Council committee meetings going virtual

New legislation and government regulations which have changed rules around holding Council committee meetings will now allow Maidstone Borough Council to resume some Committee meetings in the coming weeks.

The new legislation expands the definition of the ‘place’, which means local authority committee meetings can be held electronically, digitally or in virtual locations rather than only with councillors physically present in a room. As long as councillors are able to hear and can be heard and where possible, to see and be seen, the meetings can go ahead.

Council officers have been working hard during the last few weeks on technology arrangements and how meetings will be conducted and facilitated to enable committee meetings to be restored.

Alison Broom, Chief Executive of Maidstone Borough Council said:

“We have been working with our Committee Chairs and Vice Chairs to have the first of these new types of meetings held by the end of April ensuring the important decision making functions of the Council can continue.

“Our new arrangements will also give remote access to the public and press, enabling them to participate by telephone and listen to the meetings live.”

“We will hold the first meeting of the Policy and Resources Committee on 29 April 2020 at 2pm.”

“The new regulations also allow our Annual General Meeting (AGM) to be deferred or cancelled if necessary. A decision has been made to hold our next AGM in May 2021. The appointments made at our last AGM will continue until the next one takes place, this includes the Mayor, Leader and Committees.”

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