Could more face to face council meetings be held?
USING TECHNOLOGY during the COVID-19 pandemic has saved local authority business mileage amounting to travelling around the world 26 times, councillors heard.
The ongoing pandemic has changed the way Calderdale Council conducts business with many meetings held online – but councillors fell more of these should be re-introduced “face to face” again.
The council’s lead for transformation and strategy, Craig Chew-Moulding, said the authority was one of the first in West Yorkshire to get meetings up and running by using technology after the COVID-19 pandemic began.
The last 12 months has seen a 22 per cent reduction in energy consumption across its estate, with cash and carbon reduction benefits, Strategy and Performance Scrutiny Board councillors heard.
But councillors believe there is more to the equation and want to push the pace on “hybrid” working whereby meetings could be held face to face with participants also able to join in via screens in relevant meeting rooms and chambers.
Technologically this can be done, although it will carry a cost, said officers.
Coun Megan Swift (Lab, Town) and Coun Susan Press (Lab, Todmorden) both had concerns, saying ward forums, for example, had seen attendances fall when held virtually, particularly impacting older people not into online technology.
Coun Steven Leigh (Con, Ryburn) said a hybrid solution needed to be implemented at the earliest opportunity, crucially allowing the public to be more involved.
“For transparent democracy we need to have a hybrid solution so they can come into the town hall and be involved in the decision-making process.
“Eventually, I believe we will be able to get back to meetings where we feel they are really necessary and some electronically, where it is at the moment a closed meeting and more convenient to get together on Zoom,” he said.
Board Chair Coun Ashley Evans (Lib Dem, Warley) agreed a choice to “pick and mix” should be offered.
ONLINE: Read more on this at www.halifaxcourier.co.uk