A SHAVINGTON councillor has voiced his concerns about plans to end online council meetings.

A High Court ruling has been made that will prohibit authorities from holding their meetings on virtual platforms like zoom and Teams next month.

Temporary measures were put in place last year because of the lockdown, but attempts by local government lawyers, including Hertfordshire County Council, to get the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government to extend them fell on the deaf ears of judges.

Now councils will have to welcome back their members, but there are concerns that many venues will not permit proper social distancing. Within 21 days of the local elections, authorities are obliged to hold Annual General Meetings.

Cheshire East Council had planned to hold its AGM on May 12, five days after the temporary measures expire. But to head off having to hold a physical meeting with all the authority's 81 members that has been brought forward to next Tuesday (May 4), so the meeting, which will include the appointment of a mayor and committee chairs for a new governance system, can be held remotely.

But the problem is not likely to go away while Covid restrictions remain in force with parish councils that rely on smaller venues for their meetings set to be tested to the limit.

Crewe Town Council has already made plans to move face-to-face meetings from their offices in Chantry Court to the nearby Salvation Army branch premises, while providing an online streaming service for the public at the same time.

Cllr David Marren, who represents Shavington on Cheshire East, said: "So councils can't conduct meetings via zoom in three weeks, yet many council meeting rooms, like Shavington Parish Council's, are too small for social distancing and will be aggravated by a mix of vaccinated and non-vaccinated attendees.

"I am not convinced the government has thought this through. In terms of social contact as from May 17 the Rule of 6 or two households will apply indoors, yet a parish council meeting has far more than six people and more crammed together."

Judges dismissed the claim to extend the right to host meetings online because primary legislation would be needed to extend the permission.