Quick return of hybrid Council meetings expected

Members of Derry City and Strabane District Council’s Governance and Strategic Planning Committee have approved draft regulations to reinstate hybrid meetings within council.

Legislation enacted under Coronavirus Legislation had allowed Councils the flexibility to hold meetings either remotely or as a hybrid model. However, this was not renewed following its expiration on March 6, 2024.

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As a result, Councils no longer had the power to hold meetings remotely or in a hybrid format. 

Councillors at Tuesday’s meeting were informed that the Communities Minister had asked the Department to proceed to draft regulations under the Local Government (Meetings and Performance) Act (NI) 2021, to enable the resumption of hybrid meetings. 

The draft regulations replicate the powers that existed under the previous Coronavirus Legislation, subject to an obligation to Councils to ensure that remote/hybrid meetings can only take place where they are adequately provided for in Councils Standing Orders. 

Council Officers met with representatives of the Department for Communities on March 20, 2024 and provided commentary in relation to the draft regulations. 

Councillors were told that a further draft is likely to be received shortly after the Easter break and Members will be updated at that time. 

Members had  previously expressed concerns about the equality issues, particularly in and around rural Members and those Members with caring commitments arising out of the removal of the ability of the Councils to hold remote/hybrid meetings. 

Speaking at the meeting, Cllr Shaun Harkin (People Before Profit) said he welcomed the draft legislation which would allow the continuation of hybrid meetings.

Cllr Harkin said: “I would have preferred that there wasn’t a break, that we continued to have hybrid meetings, but this has been fairly quick in terms of when the [previous] legislation expired.

“I do think the arguments we made about carers, people who have to travel long distances, people who might not be able to make it into a meeting, physically, for whatever reason, they should be able to fully participate. 

“We have learned that people can do that and it has worked during the period of the pandemic and afterwards, so I am happy, along with others, hopefully in the Chamber, to endorse these draft proposals today. Hopefully, this can be enacted as soon as possible.”

Alderman Chelsea Cooke (DUP) also welcomed the draft legislation.

She added: “We would also be keen to know if there was a timeline regarding when we could resume hybrid meetings.”

Cllr Brian Tierney (SDLP) said he endorsed “the progress that has been made”.

“It has been a quick turnaround,” he added. “I just want to point out, it is quite clear that the action this Council took, in conjunction with NILGA (Northern Ireland Local Government Association) and other councils across the North has been listened to.

“I think, when you look at the timeline of correspondence, I think this is probably, in my experience of being in this Council, the quickest response we have had from a Government minister and I hope it continues because we need responses from them on a whole lot of issues.”