COUNCILLORS in North Herts who are not able to attend meetings as a result of Covid will NOT automatically lose their place on the council – after councillors agreed to a change in the rules.

Usually any councillor who fails to turn up to meetings for six months or longer – without approval – would cease to be a member of North Herts District Council.

But a meeting of the full council this week agreed to an extension of the so-called 'six-month rule'.

That means any councillor who feels too vulnerable to attend meetings – which now have to be 'in-person' – as a result of Covid will not lose their seat.

Speaking in support of the measure, the leader of the council's Conservative group Cllr Claire Strong said: "Its very sensible that we continue with this practice.

"And I know that both sides have had councillors who have been in the situation where we have had to use the six-month extension rule.

"I have no objections that we go forward with it.

"I think it is highly desirable that if we have councillors that do have to be excluding or for whatever reason cannot come to the council chamber or meetings then we do make the extension for them."

The decision taken by the council will mean councillors can opt not to attend meetings, without penalty, until November 26.

And the council will be able to reconsider the issue at its scheduled meeting on November 11.

"By 20 November it is hoped that social distancing requirements will not be as stringent and that everyone will have been offered the vaccine," says the report to the council.

"Whilst the advice to shield has ended at the time of writing, the clinically vulnerable people are urged continue to take extra steps to protect themselves.

"This currently includes take up of vaccination, the continuing of social distancing, minimising social and work interaction."

Earlier in the pandemic councils had been allowed to hold their meetings virtually, as a result of powers included in time-limited Coronavirus regulations.

But those regulations lapsed on May 6. And now meetings are required, by law, to be held 'in-person' – even through there are continuing requirements to maintain a 'social distance'.

The decision to extend the 'six month rule' was taken at a meeting of the full North Herts District Council on Wednesday, May 26.

That meeting was attended by just 20 of the 49 elected councillors – to ensure that social distancing could be maintained.