Some issues 'are too important for Zoom' - councillor

BCP Council committee meetings switched to remote attendance during the pandemic

There is "no need or desire" for councillors to attend meetings and vote remotely, a council opposition leader has said.

Currently the vast majority of Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole (BCP) Council meetings require attendance in person but the government is consulting on enabling hybrid and online participation.

Conservative councillor Phil Broadhead has put forward a motion calling for the council to back the current regulations that require a physical presence to vote.

Mr Broadhead said he has no issue with some less important meetings being held online but some issues "are too important for Zoom".

Mr Broadhead told BBC Radio Solent: "The public rightly expect their elected councillors, who are paid for their time, to have the decency to physically turn up in person to make important decisions.

"While remote attendance for formal council meetings was necessary for the pandemic, there is frankly no need or desire to have them now.

"For major meetings such as planning committees and full council, I think the idea of elected councillors sat at home with a glass of wine rather than being together professionally in the Civic Centre would leave the public wondering why they have councillors at all."

At the moment full council, cabinet, scrutiny and governance meetings all have to be attended in person, while some licensing meetings can take place virtually.

The government consultation on enabling hybrid and online participation in local authority meetings is due to close on 19 December.

Mr Broadhead's motion, to be discussed by BCP Council on 10 December, states while there are benefits to virtual or hybrid meetings, the current requirements for a physical presence for councillors to vote at formal meetings are sufficient.

'The old ways have gone'

Chief executive of BCP Graham Farrant admitted the current rules can be quite confusing.

He said: "It's not uncommon for some members to dial in to cabinet meetings from their foreign holidays, where they can take part in discussions, make political points in a discussion etc but not be allowed to take part in any voting - it's quite frustrating having to apologise and explain the rules all the time."

But Boscombe Labour councillor George Farquhar said hybrid meetings with online participation can be effective.

"Covid showed the old ways have gone, members don't have to be in the room. Flexible working is the new 21st Century way of doing things," he said.

BCP Council leader, Liberal Democrat Millie Earl, said it was not really a big issue.

"There's no need for the council to take a formal view on remote attendance and proxy voting. All councillors have been invited to respond to the government's consultation on an individual basis and those particularly concerned about this issue should take that opportunity," she said.

When the pandemic struck in 2020, local authorities switched many council and committee meetings to online platforms such as Zoom.

Jackie Weaver, clerk to Handforth Parish Council, became a media sensation after a rowdy zoom meeting of the third tier authority went viral.

The meeting descended into chaos after Ms Weaver muted and removed other members of the council leading one to shout "you do not have the authority, Jackie Weaver".