The UK Government has confirmed plans to modernise council meetings by enabling remote attendance and proxy voting. While in-person meetings will still be the foundation, the aim is to make participation more flexible and inclusive—especially for those with health issues, caring responsibilities or accessibility challenges.
At RLS Computer Services, we believe this is a fantastic step forward. We’ve long supported parish and town councils with technology solutions, and this development reinforces our mission to help you go digital in a practical, secure, and cost-effective way.
What’s Changing?
The government’s new direction allows local authorities to decide how best to allow councillors to attend meetings remotely—via video conferencing platforms like Microsoft Teams or Zoom. Proxy voting will also be permitted in specific circumstances (like illness or parental leave), helping ensure democratic decisions aren’t delayed.
Why It Matters
When councillors can contribute from anywhere, representation improves. It means better decision-making, fewer meeting cancellations, and a broader pool of people who may feel able to stand for office.
How RLS Can Help Your Council
We offer a full range of IT support tailored to the needs of local government:
- Hybrid Meeting Setup: Cameras, speakers, microphones, and stable Wi-Fi – everything needed to run smooth hybrid meetings.
- Platform Support: Help with Zoom, Teams or other platforms including setup, training and ongoing support.
- Devices for Councillors: Laptops and tablets pre-configured for secure access and remote participation.
- Document Sharing & Security: SharePoint and Microsoft 365 integration so agendas, minutes, and policies are easy to access and safe.
- Clear IT Policies: We’ll help clerks establish practical and easy-to-follow policies for remote working.
- On-Demand Support & Training: Reliable, friendly support when you need it most
Ready to Modernise Your Meetings?
We’re already helping councils across Norfolk take the next step in digital governance—and we’d love to help yours too.
📞 01553 776937
📧 info@rlscomputers.co.uk
🌐 www.rlscomputers.co.uk
Read Full Government Article: Remote attendance and proxy voting in local authorities: consultation results and government response