Council received a report of the Group Head of Democracy and Governance, which sought approval to waive the requirement for councillors to attend a relevant meeting of the council for a period of six months from the date of their last attendance. This had been proposed in light of the COVID-19 pandemic and the likelihood that meetings may be cancelled or members were unable to attend due to personal circumstances.

RESOLVED –

1.      That council approves, in relation to each and every member of the council, as a reason for a failure to attend any meeting of the council, cabinet, committee or sub-committee (a relevant meeting), by any member of the council during the relevant period in the circumstances set out below, as a reason for non-attendance for the of Section 85 of the Local Government Act 1972.

2.      The circumstances referred to in 1 above are that a member fails to attend a relevant meeting because the member:

         - has contracted or been infected by COVID-19

         - has tested positive for COVID- 19

         - is suspected of having or suspects that he/she has contracted or been infected by COVID-19

         - has concerns that they may contract or become infected with COVID-19

         - is in quarantine or self-isolating (whether or not on the instruction or advice of any public authority or medical professional) in relation to COVID-19

         - is unable to attend the relevant meeting because the meeting is cancelled or postponed for a reason relating to COVID-19

3.      The relevant period for the purposes of 1 and 2 above is the period from the passing of the resolution until the end of the Annual Meeting of the Council in 2021.