Return to Face to Face Meetings – Guidance

Bingley Town Council

Return of the public to open, face to face, meetings post pandemic.

In line with the latest Government Guidance Bingley Town Council will be returning to open, face to face meetings after the 7^th May 2021. This is great news. As the COVID infection rates diminish and more people are having their vaccination against the virus the latest advice from both the Government and the National Association of Local Councils is that a cautious return to open meetings is advised.

They do stress that precautions should still be applied and safety remains the top priority. So, with the exception of working groups, Bingley Town meetings will be held in public for the first time in over a year. All Councillors will be required to attend but there are 3 ways in which the public can access the meetings and air their views.

1. Members of the public can attend in person if they follow the guidance below.
2. Zoom access to meetings will still be available in the short term and access arrangements will be attached to the agenda as usual.
3. Members of the public can send any comments/statements they may wish to make to the Town Clerk for them to be read out in the Public Participation agenda item.

There will of course be extra precautions in place for anyone wishing to attend in person.

• Volunteer Councillors will be at the entrance to welcome anyone wishing to attend.
• Attendee’s temperatures will be checked (anyone with a high temperature will be politely refused access).
• All chairs will be spaced 2m apart and surfaces will be sanitised with disinfectant wipes prior to the meeting.
• Meetings will be kept as short as is practical.
• Hand sanitiser will be available at entrance/exits.
• Social distancing of at least 2m to be observed at all times.
• Seating shall be placed at least 2m apart.
• Face masks should be worn at all times unless individuals are exempt.
• Windows will be opened where possible to improve ventilation.
• Paper copies of any information will not be passed around or shared during the meeting.
• No refreshments or conveniences will be available. Any attendees should bring any water etc with them.
• Any groups wishing to address the meetings should be represented by a single individual to minimise numbers
• If the Chair Person of the meeting decides the holding the meeting is risky due to the number of attendees BTC reserves the right to cancel the meeting and reschedule at a later date.

Please respect these guidelines if you wish to attend in person as the safety of both the public and Councillors is our top priority.

The venues, dates and times of each meeting will be included on the agenda. Details of zoom access will also be included. (Dependent upon technology zoom attendees may only be able to converse with the meetings Chair Person who will reiterate any comments).

Any comments to be read out at the Public Participation agenda item should be addressed to townclerk@bingleytowncouncil.gov.uk and should be sent at least 48 hours before the meeting.

Any meetings of working groups such as the Neighbourhood Plan Working Group and the CP Toilet Working Group will continue to be held using zoom technology for the foreseeable future

It is hoped that these measures will be very short term and if infection rates continue reduce as expected then we can return to normal after 21^st June when all restrictions will hopefully be lifted.

Finally, if the guidance, and hence our arrangements, change we will let everyone know on the website.