Decision details

The Council received and considered the report of the Town Clerk outlining options for Council meetings as a consequence of the recent court decision that confirmed the cessation of ‘virtual’ meetings.

The Town Clerk highlighted that decision would be needed on the Open Space Strategy in due course and sought delegation to extend the current grounds contract for a further year to allow a decision to be made and options to be fully considered. In response to a query regarding timescales it was clarified that the strategy had just been received and it would be made available to members at the earliest opportunity ahead of the June Council meeting.

It was proposed and seconded that Option B in the report which recommended changing the current standing committees to advisory meetings that would then make recommendations to Council at the 28 June meeting. It was noted that this would allow virtual meetings to continue and delegations to the Town Clerk would facilitate urgent decisions if needed.

The timetable of meetings for 2021/2022 were proposed and seconded.

On being put to the vote the propositions were carried.

Resolved:

1.       That, Committees of the Town Council become ‘Advisory’ Committees, still meet virtually per the scheduled calendar of meetings, and make Recommendations (not Resolutions) to full Council which will be ratified at the physical Council meeting scheduled for 28th June (if restrictions allow);

2.       That, urgent decisions, could be enacted, under the delegations to the Town Clerk, if necessary;

3.       That the timetable of meetings for 2021/2022 be agreed; and

4.       Delegation be given to the Town Clerk to extend the current grounds contract for one year to allow the new Open Spaces Strategy to be considered.