Virtual Meetings and Postponement of Elections Regulations: Guidance, Implications and Insight

This free on-demand webinar features a discussion between LLG’s Chief Executive, Deborah Evans and Mark Heath, Consultant at VWV and Returning Officer at Southampton City Council, who will examine the regulations on virtual meetings, the guidance recently produced by LLG and ADSO, and the implications of the regulations including in relation to standing orders, immediate effect and five days' notice, and guidance for members.

It looks at two sets of regulations: The Local Authorities and Police and Crime Panels (Coronavirus) (Flexibility of Local Authority Police and Crime Panel Meetings) (England and Wales) Regulations 2020 and The Local Government and Police and Crime Commissioner (Coronavirus) (Postponement of Elections and Referendums) (England and Wales) Regulations 2020.

Deborah and Mark then discuss the regulations on the postponement of elections, the implications for local authorities, some of the issues that remain outstanding, and the correlation between the two sets of regulations.

Speakers:

Deborah Evans, CEO, LLG

Mark Heath, Returning Officer, Southampton City Council

Mark remains the Returning Officer at Southampton, a post he has held since 1994. He was the South East Regional Returning Officer for the 2009, 2014 and 2019 European Parliamentary Elections, the Regional Counting Officer for the South East Region for the AV Referendum in 2011 and the European Referendum in 2016, and the Police Area Returning Officer for Hampshire for the Police and Crime Commissioner elections in 2012 and 2016. He serves on several groups convened by Government and the Electoral Commission on electoral law, policy and practice. He also writes and speaks frequently on the topic, including training new Returning Officers.