News & Publications

On Thursday 5 June, the government published its response to the consultation on remote meetings and proxy voting, which was carried out at the end of last year.

In the forward from the Minister of State, Jim McMahon OBE, the overarching message from the government is that, ‘in the spirit of resetting our relationship with local government, we want to ensure that local authorities can develop their own remote and hybrid attendance policies, with local knowledge, and to respond to local need.’

This is a very positive outcome for the sector, which represents the bulk of the 5,844 responses to the consultation. It reflects the SLCC’s position, which formed part of our submission to the consultation, which was made in December.

The government has recognised concerns from our sector about the use of proxy voting. Development of that proposal will be limited to principal councils.

The government is committing ‘to collaboratively develop guidance with the sector on both policies, to ensure that local authority schemes are supportive of members and officers.’
Both changes will require legislation to come into effect.

Click here to read the full response.

Summary of government response

The government acknowledges the importance of in-person meetings for local democracy but also recognises the need for flexibility. The key points from the response include:

1. Support for hybrid and remote options: while in-person meetings remain the default, the government supports enabling councils to allow remote or hybrid attendance to improve accessibility and inclusivity.
2. Proxy voting endorsed: proxy voting is seen as a useful tool for members in principal councils who cannot attend meetings, even remotely, due to exceptional circumstances.
3. Local discretion emphasised: councils will be empowered to develop their own policies on remote attendance and proxy voting, tailored to local needs and contexts.
4. Guidance to be co-developed: the government plans to work with the local government sector to create guidance that supports effective implementation of these policies.
5. Legislative change anticipated: the government is considering legislative changes to enable these reforms, though no specific timeline has been confirmed.

Top five take-aways for town and parish councils

1. Empowerment to set local policies: town and parish councils will have the autonomy to decide how and when to allow remote attendance, reflecting their unique circumstances.
2. Improved accessibility: these changes aim to make council roles more accessible to people with disabilities, caring responsibilities, or work commitments.
3. Support for smaller councils: the government recognises the distinct needs of smaller councils and intends to ensure that guidance and legislation are proportionate and flexible.
4. Encouragement of participation: by reducing barriers to attendance, the reforms are expected to encourage broader participation in local governance.
5. Safeguards for democratic integrity: while enabling flexibility, the government stresses the importance of maintaining transparency, accountability, and public engagement in decision-making.