Write a commentNewry, Mourne and Down Council are holding a Special meeting tomorrow to discuss the potential of amending standing orders to enable remote council meetings to continue.
Since Council meetings returned after the pandemic began last March they have been held online. This was made possible by the Coronavirus Act 2020 which allowed Stormont to pass regulations to allow local councils to work remotely but these regulations expire 6 May 2021 and Stormont can't presently extend these, which mean that Council committees would have no authority to meet remotely and make decisions and having meetings with Councillors present would be impossible with indoor gathering regulations.
Councillors will discuss options to enable them to continue meetings, including: Giving Chief Executive Marie Ward delegated authority; holding meetings physically or amending Standing Orders to enable remote meetings to continue.
