LESS than half of the members of North Hertfordshire District Council were allowed to attend the annual meeting of the council on Wednesday – in order to maintain social-distancing.

For the past year Coronavirus regulations have enabled councils to hold their meetings online – with councillors joining virtual platforms from their own homes.

But since May 7 – when those regulations lapsed – councils have been legally required to hold their meetings 'in-person'.

And councils across the country are now having to find ways to meet 'in-person', while still meeting the requirements to socially distance.

Some councils – like Hertfordshire County Council – have hired larger venues for their council meetings. And others have modified existing spaces or installed clear screens.

But at the annual council meeting of North Hertfordshire District Council on Wednesday (May 26) more than half of the 49 elected councillors had to stay away.

Just 20 councillors were allowed to attend the council chamber, where they sat at socially distanced – mostly front-facing – desks.

And at the start of the meeting, the approach was outlined by retiring chair of the council Cllr Terry Tyler.

"You will note there is only 20 members present," he said.

"Due to the cessation of the flexible arrangements on the 7th May, 2021, it is now a requirement that the majority of formal meetings convene in-person.

"Having been unable to find a suitable alternative venue, group leaders agreed it would meet in the council chamber and we would hold this number of people whilst social distancing distancing remains a requirement."

Cllr Tyler stressed that a number of officers – not required to attend 'in-person' – were joining remotely and that members, the public and Press could view proceedings online.

Following the meeting deputy leader of the council Cllr Paul Clark said the council recognised it was legally bound to hold face-to-face meetings.

But he said they were "extremely disappointed" in the government for not doing more to extend a hybrid way of working.

"It is unreasonable of the government not to have made parliamentary time to legislate, to allow remote meetings to continue while Covid is still a risk," he said.

"[…] Many of us have now had vaccinations, but others still have not. And, furthermore, some of our councillors and officers have caring responsibilities and will be wary about returning to face to face meetings."

Cllr Clark also highlighted the advantages of using technology. And he suggested councils should be allowed to determine how meetings are held.

"Local democracy has moved on since the pandemic with councillors embracing new technology," he said.

"And in our experience, holding meetings remotely has improved engagement with residents, as well as improving inclusion, diversity and accountability.

"A reduction in face-to-face meetings has also enabled us to reduce car journeys and cut carbon emissions, contributing to our response to the climate emergency.

"Therefore, we are calling upon the government to give local councils the power to arrange their meetings in the best way to keep officers and members safe and give residents best access to those meetings."

During the meeting leader of the Conservative group Cllr Claire Strong put on record the apologies for the 14 members of her group who were not there.

And later in the meeting she emphasised the need for ALL councillors to be able to meet together at the next meeting, on July 8.

Meanwhile Labour and Co-operative Cllr Amy Allen paid tribute to the 'considerable amount of work' undertaken by officers in pulling together the meeting and their work online.

For the past year, councils had been allowed to meet virtually, as a result of provisions specified in Coronavirus regulations.

But the powers allowed by those regulations were time-limited – and lapsed on May 7.

Hertfordshire County Council – alongside Lawyers in Local Government and the Association of Democratic Services Officers – did go to the High Court, to question whether existing legislation would allow virtual meetings to continue.

But the High Court ruling determined that after May 7 council meetings 'must take place in a single, specified geographical location'.

And it suggested primary legislation would be required to allow local authority 'meetings' to take place remotely.

At the annual meeting of North Hertfordshire District Council, Cllr Val Bryant was elected as the chair of the council. Meanwhile retiring chair, Cllr Terry Tyler was elected as vice-chair.