Chief Executive confirms end of Emergency Recess procedures.
At the Council meeting on 17 March 2020 Council resolved unanimously to delegate powers to Chief Executive Monica Patterson, in consultation with the three Political Group Leaders, to invoke the COVID-19 Emergency Recess Procedures as and when necessary. A decision to invoke these procedures was made on 20 March 2020, with both general and specific procedures made to permit necessary business to be heard and conducted (“Special Arrangements”).
The report also confirmed that it will be for the Chief Executive to determine when the Emergency Recess ends.
In accordance with the delegated powers conferred by Council on 17 March 2020 the Chief Executive has now determined that as of today’s date (17 August 2020), for purposes of council decision making processes, the Emergency Recess is at an end. Notwithstanding this both the already arranged Planning Committee on 18 August and the Local Review Body on 20 August will continue to operate under the Special Arrangements. It is anticipated that the first meeting of the Council on 25 August and, subject to consideration of a related report at that meeting, all other public meetings until further notice, will operate on a virtual basis accessible to the public.