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The Welsh Government has tabled further regulations to deal with the coronavirus epidemic, this time aimed at local government.
The first set of regulations (pdf) will allow councils (county and community) to formally delay by-elections for vacancies until any date between 1st February 2021 and 16th April 2021. This includes any by-elections that were due to take place after 15th March 2020.
The second set of regulations (pdf) will allow local authorities and community councils to hold meetings distantly (i.e. via video chat) and suspends the requirement for councils (including National Park Authorities) to hold an AGM before the end of May 2020. The rule under which councillors lose their seat if they fail to attend a meeting for six months (without a leave of absence being granted) has been temporarily suspended too.
The requirement to hold meetings in public has also been relaxed so long as relevant documents are made available to the public electronically.
