Agenda item

6A) Delivering The Recommendations Of The Barriers To Politics Review (Recommendation #46)

RESOLVED: Members of the LDWG noted the delivery of the recommendations made by the Barriers To Politics Working Group and agreed that any further work required (including the wider dissemination of information about councillor roles and responsibilities) be taken forward by officers, with oversight from the LDWG.

6B) Update On Proposals To Introduce Hybrid (Public) Committee Meetings

RESOLVED: Members of the LDWG noted the contents of the report and agreed that the LDWG should oversee the Council’s move to hybrid meetings from March 2021 as part of its continued work programme. They requested that that a report be presented to the next formal meeting in December 2020 outlining the timetable and resource implications.

6A) Delivering The Recommendations Of The Barriers To Politics Review (Recommendation #46)

Rosalind Jeffrey (Principal Officer – Policy, Service Design & Analysis) introduced the report and the key points to note:

§  In April 2019, it was agreed that the 31 recommendations made by the Barriers To Politics Working Group should become part of the ongoing responsibilities of the LDWG as there was significant crossover with the Local Democracy Review’s recommendations, particularly in relation to councillor roles and responsibilities

§  The Barriers To Politics recommendations were mapped against the eight thematic areas and included in the oversight responsibilities of the relevant LDWG Champion. Appendix A of the report sets out in detail how each of these recommendations have been delivered to date

The following was noted in discussion:

§  The COVID-19 pandemic has had a significant impact on councillors, particularly in terms of an increase in casework

§  It is important that prospective councillors are fully aware of what the role involves – the member role profiles provide key information about different positions available to them once they have been elected (as well as providing information for officers and residents), but the Council should consider what additional information might be useful

§  Similarly, the Council should publicise the support available to councillors (e.g. allowances) more effectively in order to encourage a broader range of residents to consider becoming councillors

RESOLVED: Members of the LDWG noted the delivery of the recommendations made by the Barriers To Politics Working Group and agreed that any further work required (including the wider dissemination of information about councillor roles and responsibilities) be taken forward by officers, with oversight from the LDWG.

6B) Update On Proposals To Introduce Hybrid (Public) Committee Meetings

Suki Binjal (Director of Law, Governance & HR) introduced the report and the key points to note:

§  The report sets out a proposal to introduce hybrid committee meetings in March 2021 and recommends that further work to develop this proposal is overseen by the LDWG

§  The changes made to the regulations relating to Council meetings which allow virtual meetings to take place are only temporary (until May 2021), but local authorities are lobbying central government for an extension and/or permanent change

The following was noted in discussion:

§  Hybrid committee meetings will need to be introduced in a careful and measured way – it is vital that IT systems used for meetings are effective and secure, the technology can support the requirements of different committees (e.g. multiple presentations at Planning committees) and the buildings are COVID-safe (for as long as social distancing rules are in place)

§  Virtual and hybrid committee meetings have potentially significant benefits for residents (e.g. allowing people who are not able to attend an evening meeting in a physical location to participate in local democracy) and councillors (e.g. providing them with the ability to manage the various commitments of their role more effectively)

§  There is an opportunity to extend the virtual/hybrid meetings approach to councillor surgeries – this has been trialled by some councillors during the COVID-19 pandemic, so evidence/insights should be gathered about their experiences to inform any future work

RESOLVED: Members of the LDWG noted the contents of the report and agreed that the LDWG should oversee the Council’s move to hybrid meetings from March 2021 as part of its continued work programme. They requested that that a report be presented to the next formal meeting in December 2020 outlining the timetable and resource implications.