Council to consider virtual meetings

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Tuesday, 31 March 2020 16:34

By Carmelo Garcia - Local Democracy Reporter

Herefordshire Council is considering holding its meetings on the internet due to the coronavirus outbreak.

Meetings have been cancelled to avoid unnecessary social contact and risk of spreading the disease.

But the council will explore the prospect of holding virtual meetings on the internet.

A Herefordshire Council spokesperson said: “The leader of the council has the power, and took the decision, to cancel cabinet this week.

“Essentially, the Coronavirus Act 2020 allows the Secretary of State to make regulations to change the way local authority meetings are held.

“We are awaiting formal guidance from our monitoring officer, but we are currently looking into finding a way to host virtual meetings.

“If this isn’t possible, we will look to record any virtual committees and then publish to our website.”

The NHS advice is that everyone must stay at home to help stop the spread of coronavirus.

People should only leave the house for shopping for basic necessities, for example food and medicine, which must be as infrequent as possible, one form of exercise a day, for example a run, walk, or cycle – alone or with members of your household.

Any medical need, or to provide care or to help a vulnerable perso and travelling to and from work, but only where this absolutely cannot be done from home.