The Local Authorities (Coronavirus) (Meetings) (Wales) Regulations 2020

EXPLANATORY NOTE

(This note is not part of the Regulations)

These Regulations make provision in relation to local authority meetings, and the publication of and access to certain local authority documents.

Part 1 sets out preliminary matters and defines terms used in these Regulations, including the definition of “local authority” for the purposes of these Regulations. Regulation 3 makes provision about the interaction of these Regulations with standing orders, executive arrangements and any other rules of a local authority. Regulation 4 makes provision about how an authority with its own website must comply with requirements in these Regulations to publish notices or documents electronically.

Part 2 makes provision to enable meetings of local authorities held before 1 May 2021 to be held by means of remote attendance.

Part 3 makes provision about requirements relating to local authority meetings. Regulations 6 to 8 make provision about when annual meetings of principal councils, community councils and National Park authorities may be held in 2020. Regulation 9 makes provision ensuring a local authority is not restricted in determining when meetings (other than the annual meetings addressed by regulations 6 to 8) may be held before 1 May 2021. Regulation 10 makes provision about failures to attend meetings. Regulations 11 to 13 make provision about elections of chairs, vice-chairs and deputy chairs (as the case may be) at the 2020 annual meetings of principal councils, community councils, National Park authorities and the Swansea Bay Port Health Authority. Regulation 14 makes provision in relation to other appointments which are made at local authority meetings held before 1 May 2021. Regulation 15 enables the standing orders of a local planning authority to provide for the substitution of members of local planning authority committees and sub-committees. Regulation 16 makes provision about the manner of voting at community council meetings. Regulations 17 and 18 make provision about notices of meetings of principal councils, community councils and National Park authorities held before 1 May 2021, and summonses to members to attend those meetings.

Part 4 makes modifications to public access requirements in relation to certain local authority meetings, decisions of principal council executives, and notices and documents relating to those meetings or decisions. Regulation 20 modifies provisions of the Public Bodies (Admission to Meetings) Act 1960 (c. 67) and regulation 21 modifies provisions of Part 5A of the Local Government Act 1972 (c. 70). Those provisions relate to public access to meetings and to notices and documents relating to meetings. Regulation 22 makes provision about the preparation of the minutes of a meeting under Schedule 12 to the Local Government Act 1972. Regulation 23 modifies provisions of the Local Authorities (Executive Arrangements) (Decisions, Documents and Meetings) (Wales) Regulations 2001 (S.I. 2001/2290) (W. 178) in relation to public access to meetings of executives of principal councils and to notices and documents relating to those meetings and to executive decisions.

The Welsh Ministers’ Code of Practice on the carrying out of Regulatory Impact Assessments was considered in relation to these Regulations. As a result, it was not considered necessary to carry out a regulatory impact assessment as to the likely costs and benefits of complying with these Regulations.