Phased return of HQ council meetings planned for August
Meetings of Renfrewshire Council are set to be held at the Paisley headquarters again from August.
Since the coronavirus pandemic struck in March 2020, all meetings of the council and its boards have been held remotely over Microsoft Teams.
Dur ing this time only members of the press have been able to view proceedings live while residents have been left to watch back recordings on YouTube.
However, according to papers due to be presented to full council this week, preparations are getting underway to allow at least some elected members to meet in person again from mid-August as safety measures continue to ease with the suppression of Covid-19.
With the country set to go to restriction level 0 in late June - where a phased return to offices would be allowed - documents suggest some councillors will be able to sit together in the council chambers after the summer recess.
But with no sign of guidelines changing with regard to social distancing, meetings would be held in a hybrid style with other councillors not in the building dialling in from their homes.
Council papers state: “Several full cycles of board meetings have now taken place with remote access for members.
“These arrangements had to be continued due to the resurgence of the coronavirus over the winter and the imposition of further lockdown restrictions.
“However, due to recent announcements regarding a planned easing of lockdown restrictions, it is now possible to begin planning for the eventual return of board meetings at Renfrewshire House.
“The first level where a limited and phased return to offices is possible is Level 0 which, according to the published timetable, will not be achieved until late June.
“In addition, there has been no change to the guidance in relation to social distancing in the workplace which means the participants in any meetings in Renfrewshire House would have to remain two metres apart.
“Until these restrictions are eased, it would still not be possible to reintroduce board meetings at Renfrewshire House where all members and supporting officers are able to be physically present.”
The requirement for social distancing to still be in place in the chambers also means it looks doubtful members of the public would be physically allowed into the building any time soon.
A system that will allow for hybrid meetings to take place has been purchased and installed in Renfrewshire House, but officers and councillors have not yet been trained in using it.
It is proposed the next cycle of meetings during May and June continue to be held remotely while this training takes place before the system is used for the first time following the summer break.
Councillors will deliberate on the plan at a meeting tomorrow morning.