South Kesteven District Council to hold virtual meetings

The council’s Planning Committee meets remotely on Tuesday (May 12) at 10am, which is followed by a Full Council meeting on Thursday (May 14) at 1pm. To follow the debate, go to: www.southkesteven.gov.uk

All 56 councillors will be able to take part in the Full Council meeting using Skype, and all Planning Committee members will be able to participate in their meeting.

Council meetings and public committee meetings were suspended on March 17 because of the Coronavirus lockdown and the need to find new ways of working that enabled the council to focus on its three priorities of protecting the health of its staff, members and residents, maintaining critical services and supporting local businesses.

Since then key decisions have been taken under delegated authority by Council Leader Coun Kelham Cooke, while Cabinet members have retained responsibility for their portfolios and non-key decisions.

Coun Cooke said: “Maintaining local decision-making and democracy is extremely important in times of crisis. I am pleased to announce that we are now able to re-start committee and council meetings and that we will be holding our first ever virtual meeting of the full council.

“Our meetings will be live on our website, which means residents can view the proceedings as though they were in the meeting room, and means we are able to maintain our policy of being open and transparent.

“It is important to keep the business of council going wherever possible and this is a significant step forward.”

All meetings will be held virtually until September and the council will be publishing a new timetable on its website at www.southkesteven.gov.uk