Councillors approve continued use of virtual meetings

HAVING conducted council meetings virtually to adapt to lockdown restrictions, the City of Greater Geelong is now advocating for virtual meetings to become a permanent fixture.

The state government passed legislation in April allowing councils to hold meetings via teleconference rather than in person.

However, this legislation expires on November 1 this year.

At the city’s remote July 28 council meeting, Cr Jim Mason successfully passed a Notice of Motion that will see the city’s chief executive officer investigate online platforms that would support hybrid model for virtual meetings.

At the meeting, Cr Mason said the flexibility virtual meetings offered was invaluable.

“Though we really do all prefer to hold face-to-face meetings, it’s now very clear that we may need to operate remotely through virtual meetings from time to time.

“It’s incumbent upon us to show leadership in regards to community transmission, and we don’t want to be faced with the dilemma of feeling unwell and concurrently needing to attend a council meeting to ensure the best decision is made by a full council.

“So, it is important for us to stay home if we’re unwell and to continue to attend and fully participate in a meeting from a remote location while other councillors may be meeting face-to-face.”

At the meeting, councillors also noted virtual council meetings would help councillors who need to travel considerable distances to attend or who might family commitments that would otherwise interfere.

The motion was unanimously passed.