Protocol on Remote Access to Meetings
BRANT BROUGHTON & STRAGGLETHORPE PARISH COUNCIL Reviewed 11.5.23
Background
This protocol will be observed for all meetings under the direction of BBS PC to which the Local Authorities ad Police and Crime Panels (Coronavirus)(Flexibility of Local Authority and Police and Crime Panel Meetings) (England and Wales) Regulations 2020 apply. By default, meetings are open to the public and press unless there is an overriding reason for confidentiality (set out in other legislation). The protocol applies to all meeting “participants” and “viewers” (members of the press and public).
Behavior
The Council will not accept nor tolerate any inappropriate behavior, comments, postings, or contributions. Standing Orders apply to remotely accessed meetings. However, given the immediate and potentially highly offensive nature of online abuse any suspected infringement will result in the host muting the feed from the alleged offender and returning them to the waiting room. At the direction of the Chair of the meeting, the host will close the connection to the party concerned if possible. If it is not possible to exclude any contribution or contributor then the meeting may be terminated on the direction of the Chair, and resumed immediately afterwards, excluding the party concerned.
Before the meeting
The Clerk will make arrangements for the virtual meeting room and will publish the agenda which will include access information.
At least two days before the start time for the meeting all participants should declare to the Clerk any interest in any matter to be discussed. If as a result of any interest declared, any participant would normally be required to leave the meeting room, then the item will be moved to the end of the meeting (if practicable) and the participant with the interest will leave the meeting.
Start of meeting
The Clerk will open the meeting room 5 minutes before the advertised start time for the meeting.
All Councillors and participants will enter the virtual meeting room and the host will admit the participants into the meeting.
All participants should mute themselves as they enter the meeting room but if they do not then the host will mute them.
The Chair will ask all participants to confirm that they are in as quiet a location as possible and that others will not interrupt or disrupt proceedings. Unless being used for remote access to the meeting, participants mobile phones should be switched off or switched to silent.
During the meeting
The Chair will welcome everyone to the meeting and will provide information for viewers.
The meeting protocol is the same as it would be in a traditional meeting in the Council’s normal meeting rooms: in summary –
[a] all contributions must go through the Chair
[b] items will be introduced
[c] any members of the public who wish to put forward views may do so in the public forum only (unless invited to do so by the Chair otherwise)
[d] the discussion may be summed up by the Chair, and motions/resolutions moved.
Speaking and voting
Any participant who wishes to speak must raise their hand and clearly indicate to the Chair, who will direct the order of speaking.
Voting at remote meetings will be carried out by a roll call of Councillors’ names and asking them to state their vote.
Reviewed 12.5.22