To revise the Protocol for Remote Meetings to make a number of amendments aimed at ensuring the Protocol remains in step with current practice. The revisions provide additional clarity in respect of the duties of the host, recordings of meetings, use of the Chat function to assist with the administration of the meeting, the naming regime for Members and Officers and what may happen in the event of technical difficulties.

The Head of Law and Governance consulted with the cross-party Remote Meetings Member Reference Group before revising the Protocol and there was general agreement with the changes proposed.

The revised Protocol for Remote Meetings is version 2.0.

To adopt the Protocol for Remote Meetings.

To delegate authority to the Head of Law and Governance to revise the Protocol for Remote Meetings as may be necessary as practices evolve to ensure the effective operation of remote meetings.

This protocol has been developed by an officer project group overseen by a cross-party member reference group to provide clarity about how the Council will operate remote meetings under the Local Authorities and Police and Crime Panels (Coronavirus) (Flexibility of Local Authority Police and Crime Panel Meetings) (England and Wales) Regulations 2020 No.392 (‘the Regulations’). The Regulations came into force on 4 April 2020 and remain valid until 7 May 2021. The Regulations apply notwithstanding any other legislation or pre-existing procedure rules of the Council governing meetings. This means that, wherever there is a conflict, the Protocol for Remote Meetings takes precedence in relation to the governance of any remote meeting