In the Covid-19 Pandemic local authorities could hold meetings online. This meant business could continue without putting elected members at unnecessary risk. This also resulted in meetings being more transparent to the public whilst allowing councillors a flexibility in how to access meetings. 

The Government should allow local authorities to have the choice to continue to hold meetings either 100% online or a hybrid mix with some people in the room and some online.

The benefits of online and hybrid meetings this include:-

• Increasing safety - not putting staff or councillors at unnecessary risk
• Reducing Expenses - an online meeting means no travel claims
• Reducing Costs - meeting rooms will not need maintaining so expensive civic centres can be rationalised. 
• Remove inefficiencies  - presenters to meetings can log in at the appropriate time and not wait unproductively for their agenda item to come up. 
• Increase public attendance - many rooms and chambers do not allow for the public to choose to socially distance, watching online protects everyone. 
• Increase attendance - allows the public to be represented by their councillor even if their councillor is convalescing, a new parent or unable to travel etc 

The Government should allow local authorities to have the choice to continue to hold meetings either 100% online or a hybrid mix with some people in the room and some online.