MHCLG has today (5 June) published the government response to the consultation on remote attendance and proxy voting. The response sets out a detailed analysis of consultation responses and outlines the government’s plans to enable remote attendance and proxy voting for councils.

Allowing remote attendance at meetings will give councils the freedom to operate more efficiently and make elected roles more accessible for more people. Introducing proxy voting will support council decision-making when councillors are away because of serious or long-term illness or becoming a new parent.

The development of legislation could provide local councils with the ability to develop their own local approach to proxy voting within a flexible legislative framework.