Consultation process
Review of Scheme for Establishment of Community CouncilsCommunity Council Meetings
Currently Community Council meetings are held in person with no more than two ordinary meetings in any one year being allowed to be held virtually. (see Scheme page 17)
Do you think that the option of unlimited hybrid meetings should be considered to potentially increase public participation?
This would not be a replacement for normal Community Council meetings but could be utilised to enhance attendance.
This should be left to the council to decide. Again, the model scheme offers sense:
"Community Councils may decide to take an in-person, online or hybrid approach to their meetings, and the platform to be used for any meeting is for the Community Council to decide.
Virtual meetings may include members of the public where this can be
accommodated, but this is not mandatory and for each Community Council to determine."
I agree with Tom that the Model Scheme deals with this more modern approach to meetings pretty well.
100%. I cannot see a world in where having a hybrid meeting vs an in person one would make a difference, if anything I think that we should be equipping CCs with the equipment and skills so that we can eventually say that there is a minimum number of hybrid meetings that you should have. Doesn't need to be a fancy webcasting system like SAC uses, even just Facebook Live proves useful. Ultimately, why should we be excluding those who can't leave the house whether this be due to childcare arrangements, a medical condition, or another one of the thousands of reasons people cant attend CC meetings when something as simple as sitting a phone with Facebook on it in the room can work fine.
As far as I know there is no mention of restrictions on HYBRID meetings in the current Scheme - it only says that there is a maximum of two VIRTUAL meetings which is different from a HYBRID meeting (face to face plus online). It is possible that I have not understood the current Scheme wording.
There should be more hybrid meetings.Weare volunteers and unlimited May put off members standing
2 virtual meetings insufficient,,Members should be able to participate virtually
This should be considered to give people who are unable to attend meetings to be involved. This would include for example: those with caring commitments (including those with young families), housebound for health reasons, temporary absence from home address, lack of time available to travel to meetings.
Discussion and clear guidance will be required. If this system works for elected members then it can be adapted for Community Councillors.
Most Community Councils are finding it difficult to attract attendance at meetings so this would definitely be worth a try.