Virtual county council meetings to be held during coronavirus lockdown
and on Freeview 262 or Freely 565
Housing developments and plans to close two small schools will be on the agendas of three meetings due to be audiocast on the council’s website this month.
Advertisement
Hide AdAdvertisement
Hide AdBefore the change in the law was introduced on Friday (April 2), councils were legally required to hold public meetings in person – something the coronavirus pandemic has made impossible.
The first to hit the web will be the Children and Young People’s Services Scrutiny Committee, at 2pm on April 14, where plans to close Rumboldswhyke Infants and Clapham & Patching Primary schools will be discussed.
A decision on those plans is expected to be made by the Cabinet during the next virtual meeting, which is scheduled for April 22 at a time to be announced.
Advertisement
Hide AdAdvertisement
Hide AdA Task & Finish Group meeting on the subject, which was due to be held tomorrow (April 7), has been cancelled.
The third meeting – of the Performance and Finance Scrutiny Committee – will be held on Wednesday April 15 at 10.30am.
Members will look at a ‘call-in’ of plans to build houses on the Withy Patch gypsy and traveller site, in Lancing, part of the extensive New Monks Farm/IKEA development that was approved in 2018.
Advertisement
Hide AdAdvertisement
Hide AdConcerns have been raised by some councillors, including a ‘lack of transparency’ and a ‘lack of public scrutiny’.
Agendas for each meeting will be published on the council’s website – www.westsussex.gov.uk
Search under ‘About the county council’ and ‘Council business’ to find each meeting.
Advertisement
Hide AdAdvertisement
Hide AdA spokesman said: “The county council is reviewing how to use the new legislation to hold essential business while members are unable to meet in person.
“Arrangements for future meetings will be communicated in due course.”
Last week, Local Government Secretary Robert Jenrick said: “Local authorities are the backbone of our democracy and they are playing a vital role in the national effort to keep people safe. This change will support them to do that while maintaining the transparency we expect in local decision making.
Advertisement
Hide AdAdvertisement
Hide Ad“Councillors and staff are already doing the right thing by following our advice to stay home, protect the NHS and save lives. This includes working from home wherever possible, and the new powers to hold meetings virtually will make that easier.”
A message from the Editor, Gary Shipton:
Thank you for reading this story on our website.
But I also have an urgent plea to make of you.
In order for us to continue to provide high quality local news on this free-to-read site and in print, please purchase a copy of our newspaper as well. With the coronavirus lockdown having a major impact on our town centres and many of our valued advertisers - and consequently the advertising that we receive - we are more reliant than ever on you buying a copy.
Our journalists are highly trained by the National Council for the Training of Journalists (NCTJ) and our content is independently regulated by IPSO to some of the most rigorous standards anywhere in the world. Our content is universally trusted - as all independent research proves.
Advertisement
Hide AdAdvertisement
Hide AdAs Baroness Barran said in a House of Lords debate this week on the importance of journalists: “Not only are they a trusted source of facts, but they will have a role to play in rallying communities and getting the message across about how we can keep ourselves and our families safe, and protect our NHS. Undoubtedly, they have a critical role.”
But being your eyes and ears comes at a price. So we need your support more than ever to buy our newspapers during this crisis. In return we will continue to forensically cover the local news - not only the impact of the virus but all the positive and uplifting news happening in these dark days.
In addition, please write to your MP urging the Government to provide some additional financial support for local newspapers and their websites like this one and ensuring that supermarkets continue to stock them. I cannot stress enough how important such an intervention would be.
We thank all our readers and advertisers for their understanding and support - and we wish YOU all the best in the coming weeks. Keep safe, and follow the Government advice. Thank you.