Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:

To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Greenhalgh on 28 October (HL9181), what plans they have to ensure that councils in England can meet remotely after the expiry of the relevant powers under the Coronavirus Act 2020.

There is no option under current legislation to extend the current regulations under the Coronavirus Act 2020 as section 78 (3) contains the sunset date of 7 May 2021.

The Government has received representations from the Local Government Association and others from the local government sector making the case for extending and making permanent the provision for local authorities to meet remotely or in hybrid form. The Government is considering this carefully. To extend the facility for councils to continue to meet remotely, or in hybrid form, would require primary legislation.