The arrival of the New Year is a time for optimism and hope for the future, but that was dented slightly by Lord Greenhalgh's confirmation, in a response to a question in Parliament from Baroness Bennett on remote meetings, that any provision was dependent upon parliamentary time being available.

There appears to be no momentum to urgently provide councillors with the choice to attend meetings remotely or in person. This is a blow for local authorities who are still awaiting the Government's formal response to the voices calling for the right to hold ‘hybrid' meetings, submitted to the Government's call for evidence.