IMPORTANT MESSAGE:
COVID-19 and information regarding future meetings
The COVID-19/ Coronavirus pandemic and the unprecedented in peacetime
Government measures in response to the crisis (e.g. prohibitions on gatherings, social distancing, self-isolation and shielding of those deemed to be the most vulnerable) have meant that the requirement for local authorities to hold public meetings in person with all members present in one place cannot be met. In recognition of the problem of holding and attending meetings, and further to the lobbying of NALC and others, the Government included s.78 in the Coronavirus Act 2020. This section gave the Secretary of State the power to make Regulations to make provisions for the holding of meetings. The 2020 Regulations set out those provisions.
- The 2020 Regulations permit the holding of remote meetings, with conditions.
- Local councils can decide the methods they will use to facilitate the holding of remote meetings.
- There is no requirement to hold an annual meeting.
Please find below a copy of NALC’s Legal Topic Note providing further details on the Regulations:
In accordance with these regulations:
- The Annual Parish Meeting was not held this year. There is nothing in the regulations permitting parish meetings to take place remotely and it is, therefore, NALC’s view that under the current Government Guidance, the annual parish meeting of electors should not take place.
- Regulation 5 permits the holding of remote meetings. Agendas will be published on the Agenda Page on the website (adhering to regulation which has amended s.1 (4) (a) of the 1960 Act so that public notice is deemed to be given if the time and place of the meeting is published on the authority’s website). A copy of the Zoom link will be published with the Agenda and meeting papers, enabling the press and members of the public to join the meeting (adhering to Regulation 5(2) of the 2020 regulations).
The Council has adopted the following ‘Scheme of Delegation’ to delegate certain duties to the Clerk and enable the continued running of the council in these unprecedented times.
Whit PC Scheme of delegation March 2020
Meeting Agendas – Where and when are they published
Agendas are published three clear days before a meeting. Agendas are published:
- On the website
- On the Parish Noticeboards in Park Hall and Whittington (next to the school)
To find out more about how parish council meetings are conducted, please read the parish council’s standing orders, which can be found on the policy page.
Next Agenda
The next ordinary meeting of the Full Council will be held on Tuesday 26th January at 7.30pm. This meeting will be held remotly via Zoom Video Conferencing. A copy of the Agenda can be found below, along with a link to join the meeting.
Join Zoom Meeting
https://zoom.us/j/97280307819
Meeting ID: 972 8030 7819
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Previous Agendas
WPCAGENDAMARCH2020 – Cancelled following the Government Announcement on 23.03.2020 (Covid-19)
WPCAGENDAEXTRAORDINARYOCT19; (This meeting was CANCELLED)
The Transparency Code requires Council’s to publish Agendas and Minutes from the last 12 months on their website. If you would like a copy of a document pre-dating this, please contact the Clerk.
