Back in the room!

By Elgan Hearn, Local Democracy Reporter

For the first time since before the Covid-19 lockdown in March 2020, Powys County Councillors are set to return to the chamber in county hall, Llandrindod Wells, for a public meeting.

It has been confirmed that the council’s annual general meeting (AGM) on Thursday will be a hybrid meeting, meaning that councillors can choose to be present in the chamber or follow proceedings online.

Members of the public will also be able to attend, or watch live online on Powys County Council’s website.

A spokesman for Powys County Council said: “The AGM is going to be a hybrid meeting and it will be available to view online.

“A member of the public has requested to attended the AGM on Thursday which has been granted.”

From last September onwards, some councillors on the Planning Committee grumbled that they were “sick” and “fed up” of attending meetings online and that they missed county hall. Others preferred not having to spend so much time driving up and down Powys to attend.

Last autumn preparations were being made to start having hybrid meetings from January this year, as the council had to wait for new equipment they had ordered to be installed and tested.

As it turned out, the Omicron Covid-19 wave which appeared in late 2021 further delayed a return to the chamber.

Last year, a new law was brought in by the Welsh Government which requires local authorities to ensure their meetings are capable of being held remotely.

The expectation is that all Welsh local authorities, community councils, national park authorities, fire and rescue authorities and port health authorities will broadcast meetings electronically so that members of the public not there, can see and hear proceedings.

It is expected that meetings will be shown live and will remain online and available for people to see for some time after the meeting.