CCN survey shows support for hybrid council meetings

Holding some council meetings online and some in-person would improve diversity, according to respondents of a new County Councils Network survey.

In the report A Hybrid Future, 72 percent of councillors surveyed said that moving to a hybrid model where some meetings are held online and some are held in-person could attract more younger people, ethnic minorities, and women to stand in local elections. 

In the survey, answered by 479 councillors, respondents said that hybrid meetings could improve local accountability, engagement with residents, and reduce carbon emissions and costs for councils.

In total, 87 per cent of respondents agreed that they would like their council to be able to adopt a hybrid set up.

Cllr Julian German, Rural Spokesperson for the County Councils Network, said:

“One of the most defining features of first lockdown was the rise of video conferencing, and councils embraced this technology, turning the way they operate upside down almost overnight with meetings going virtual.

“Whilst councillors will always want the ability to meet, discuss and scrutinise in person, when reflecting on the lessons learned from the last two years, there are clear benefits to councils offering a hybrid model. There is a clear consensus that hybrid meetings could open the door to attracting a younger, more diverse set of councillors, who are able to effectively balance their councillor and caring or employment responsibilities.

“Councillors across the country are also clear such a model would also increase transparency and accountability, encouraging more residents to engage in council business, as well as providing cost and environmental benefits to the public sector. This should be viewed as a win-win scenario for government, with a hybrid model offering the best of both worlds. We urge ministers to consider including legislation to enable such a model.”