8 LOCAL GOVERNMENT AND ELECTIONS (WALES) ACT 2021 - UPDATE FOR HYBRID MEETINGS PDF 338 KB
To submit the report of the Cabinet Member for Corporate
Support.
Additional documents:
Decision:
To accept
the report for information.
Minutes:
The Cabinet Member for Corporate Support submitted a
report updating the Council, following the approval of arrangements at the
previous Council meeting on 8 July, 2021, to hold Council meetings in order to
address the new requirements in Part 3 of the Local Government and Elections (Wales)
Act 2021.
The Head of Democracy Services elaborated on the
progress of background work noting that, although the original timetable had
slipped slightly, work to upgrade the Dafydd Orwig and Hywel Dda Chambers to hold hybrid meetings in future had now been
completed. He also noted that initial
trials of the technology bode well but minor elements needed further attention.
Members were given an
opportunity to make observations and ask questions.
A number of members referred
to the advantages and disadvantages of a hybrid meeting system.
In terms of the advantages,
it was noted that it would:
·
Reduce costs and travel time to meetings.
·
Reduce carbon emissions.
·
Facilitate the participation of all types of different people, namely
people who work, disabled people, carers etc.
In terms of the
disadvantages, it was noted that:
·
Members saw value in meeting on a face to face basis, and that they
missed the conversation and sharing of experiences that occurred naturally
before and after a meeting.
·
A virtual or hybrid system would change the dynamic of meetings and that
it was not possible to recognise body language etc.
·
Joining a meeting remotely could be a lonely experience.
The following matters were
raised by individual members:
·
The need to spend £130,000 on developing the hybrid system was
questioned. In response, it was
explained that this amount was for the upgrade of 17 committee rooms across the
county, and there was a need to ensure that we had a modern and reliable system
in place. It was also noted that the majority of other councils faced the same
level of costs.
·
As teachers and children were now allowed to go to schools, it was
enquired why councillors were not allowed to go to the Chamber to meet on a
face-to-face basis? In response, it was
explained that Welsh Government guidance was quite clear that we should work
from home if possible, and until that guidance would change, it would not be
possible to hold face-to-face meetings.
·
It was noted that the Senedd and Westminster
Parliament already met in a hybrid manner and the need to move forward with
arrangements in Gwynedd as soon as possible was emphasised. In response, it was explained that Welsh
Government had invested at a very early stage during the period, and that a
large number of officers were working in the background. In terms of the progress of technical work,
Gwynedd was about half way among Welsh councils, but the sooner the trialling
work etc. could be undertaken, the better so that we would be in a position to
act sooner, rather than later, should Government guidance change.
· Whilst accepting that the current Government guidance was for everyone to continue to work from home ... view the full minutes text for item 8