Today (24 October), the Deputy Prime Minister, the Rt Hon Angela Rayner MP, announced in her speech to the Local Government Association Annual Conference and Exhibition 2024, the launch of a government consultation on enabling remote attendance and proxy voting at council meetings.
This consultation seeks views on the detail and practical implications of allowing remote and hybrid attendance at council meetings. It also tests views on the possible introduction of proxy voting for those occasions when an elected member, due to personal circumstances, may be unable to attend even remotely. For example, during maternity, paternity or adoption leave.
Responses are invited from local authority elected members, all types and tiers of authorities, and local authority sector representative organisations. We are also particularly keen to hear from those members of the public who have point of view based on their interest in accessing local democracy in their area or standing as a candidate for local government at any tier to represent their local community at some future point.
The consultation will close on 19 December 2024.
For queries related to this consultation email remoteattendanceconsultation@communities.gov.uk