Council meetings in Rother are to resume for the first time since the coronavirus lockdown began – and residents can tune in to watch.

Rother District Council has been operating emergency decision-making powers since lockdown was declared in March, but new legislation allows for remote meetings to take place.

Members and officers will be able to take part in meetings from home, while the public can follow proceedings via a simultaneous live webcast on YouTube.

The first meeting to trial the new arrangements will be the audit and standards committee on Monday (18), followed by the next meeting of the planning committee on Thursday, May 28.

Cllr Doug Oliver, Rother District Council leader, said: “The exceptional times we’re living in mean we had to suspend meetings for the safety of members, officers and the public.

“The new legislation now allows us to hold meetings remotely, while ensuring residents still have the opportunity to follow the proceedings and the decisions being made in their name.

“Our staff have worked really hard to find the best solution, and to put in place the technology and the procedures to allow us to do this effectively.

“While there may be some challenges, it means we can begin to take steps towards a return to the normal decision-making process while ensuring we can all stay safe.” People can find details of forthcoming meetings at www.rother.gov.uk/councillors-democracy-and-meetings and follow the link on each meeting page for the live webcast.

Published: 19th May 2020