The emergency measures introduced in 2020 that allowed boroughs to conduct planning committees on-line have not been renewed and meetings would not be able to be held that way after 6th May 2021. They were popular with communities and a recent survey of London Forum’s members indicated how they would like to see such committees operating in future and some safeguards, as here.
The lawyer Zak Simmons has published his reaction to the ending of ‘virtual’ planning committee meetings.
There is a Government consultation on the subject in a call for evidence for 12 weeks from 25 March 2021.
On 8th April 2021 the Secretary of State, the Rt Hon Robert Jenrick, announced the Government would back a legal bid launched by the Association of Democratic Services Officers (ADSO), Lawyers in Local Government (LLG) and Hertfordshire County Council to have the virtual meetings continue. The Minister said “we believe there is a case to be heard”. Details are here.
