LOCAL councils have been scrabbling to re-arrange some of their meetings to comply with the law.

The Government has decided not to extend Covid virtual meeting regulations which will result in online meetings having no legal status after May 6.

Dorset Council says that between then and June 21,when the rules for meetings are expected to change, it does not have any space where face to face meetings could be held while complying with current Covid safety rules. At County Hall the most it could manage, legally, would be 18 with space for only 15 in a Covid safe way by using all the committee space at South Walks House.

READ MORE: Decision to end virtual meetings 'disappointing' says Dorset councillor

The best they may be able to do is continue to hold virtual meetings and make ‘minded to’ decisions which would then be delegated to senior council officers to enact.

After June 21 when more people are allowed to meet indoors, the councils should, in theory, be able to hold ‘in person’ meetings within the safety rules, although many councillors said they would be still be reluctant.

Dorset Council has brought its annual meeting forward to May 4 to avoid the changes and other local, town and parish councils, have made similar moves.

A High Court case, brought last week, sought to establish that remote meetings can take place within the general law, without the need for the remote meetings regulations, but a decision has yet to be announced.

Dorchester town clerk Adrian Stuart says his council’s meetings plan has been re-scheduled after it was felt inappropriate to have face to face indoor meetings until at least June 21. The annual meeting, originally scheduled for May 25 will now take place on May 5 while Mayor-making on May 24 will still go ahead, but outdoors.

From July the council expects to move its meetings from the council chamber to the larger Town Hall to improve Covid safety.

Portland Town Council has already held an extraordinary meeting on the subject at which councillors expressed “significant concerns about the safety risks to councillors, staff and members of the public as a result of this nationally unpopular decision by government” and has sent a letter of objection to Richard Drax MP, and Luke Hall MP, Minister for Regional Growth and Local Councils to ask for the decision to be re-considered.

It has moved its annual meeting forward to May 5.

The council will continue to meet, but has restricted the number of councillors able to attend.

Said town clerk Kathryn Pearce: “As the law gives no choice other than to have in-person meetings, this council has formally agreed temporary measures which will effectively restrict the number of councillors at each meeting. This however is felt to impact on the democratic process so valued by Portland Town Council, a feeling no doubt shared by councils all round the country. The hall at the council offices will be used for the meetings with those present spaced out two metres, and all attendees will be expected to wear PPE as instructed through Covid-19 guidance and regulation. The ability to clearly hear debate may be compromised due to the spacing, which is a further challenge.”

Chickerell Town Council has also described the Government decision as “disappointing.”

Said town clerk Nicola Briar: “Any meetings following the deadline of 6th May will be cancelled unless there is an important reason and any meeting that must be held will be done with a short, scaled down agenda and a quorum of three councillors in a large space to ensure social distancing.”

Shaftesbury Town Council will continue to meet as before, virtually, but like Dorset Council will make ‘minded to’ decisions, delegating powers to the town clerk to carry them out.

Bridport town clerk Will Austin said: “It’s certainly not an ideal situation and we are disappointed that the Government has not found time to consider extending the legislation allowing councils to meet virtually.”

It has also brought forward its annual meeting, to May 6, and will maintain virtual meetings for public access. Some of its smaller committees may be able to be held face to face but anything above ten attendees will not be possible while complying with the regulations.

Weymouth Town Council expect to meet on May 5 to discuss the situation, depending on the High Court decision.