Changes to virtual attendance of meetings, privacy of councillors’ addresses, and standards for councillors were among the announcements from Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner at the LGA’s annual conference.
She promised delegates “a new way of governing”, “a government of public service”, and a “partnership based on honesty and respect”.
But she warned there was a “shocking crisis in local government” and that the “dire public finances” meant it would take time and “hard graft on all sides” to ensure recovery.
A consultation on enabling remote attendance and proxy voting at local authority meetings is now open, with the Deputy Prime Minister saying such flexibilities would help people with caring responsibilities or disabilities to become councillors and “have a stake in local democracy”.
The Government will also consult on reforms to the local government standards framework, including a proposal allowing the suspension of members who violate codes of conduct; and will remove the requirement for councillors’ home addresses to be published to help prevent intimidation and harassment (see ‘Civility in public life’).
Cllr Louise Gittins, LGA Chair, said: “Confirmation that the Government will look to legislate to put it beyond doubt that councillors should not have to publish their home addresses is good news.
“The LGA looks forward to working with the Government to ensure that the proposals… work and are in the interest of councils and their communities.”