Part VA / LGA 1972

Sunshine Score

Agenda & Notice Requirements

Online posting: Not required

Agenda must be open to inspection at the council's principal offices 3 clear days before the meeting (s. 100B(1)). 'Clear days' excludes Saturdays, Sundays, bank holidays, and the day of the meeting. Background papers listed in the agenda must be available for public inspection for 4 years after the meeting (s. 100D). If the council maintains a website, agendas should be published online (guidance, not statutory).

Agenda changes at meeting: Allowed — Items not on the agenda may be discussed if the chairman considers the item urgent and so states (s. 100B(4)).

Public Participation

No statutory right for members of the public to speak at council meetings. The Act grants a right of attendance only. Public speaking arrangements are set by each council's standing orders and vary widely.

Virtual Meetings

Emergency provisions under the Local Authorities and Police and Crime Panels (Coronavirus) (Flexibility of Local Authority and Police and Crime Panel Meetings) (England and Wales) Regulations 2020 allowed remote meetings during the COVID-19 pandemic (2020–2021). These expired 7 May 2021. No permanent statutory right to remote participation exists in England as of 2024. The Local Democracy, Economic Development and Construction Act 2009 does not provide remote participation rights. Legislation to make remote participation permanent was proposed but not enacted.

Closed Sessions

Closed (executive) sessions: Allowed under specific circumstances

Permitted Categories

• Information Relating To Any Individual
• Information Likely To Reveal The Identity Of An Individual
• Financial Or Business Affairs Of Any Particular Person (Including The Authority Holding The Information)
• Labour Relations Matters (Negotiations, Consultations, Proposals)
• Information Subject To Legal Professional Privilege
• Information Which, If Disclosed, Would Reveal That The Authority Proposes To Give A Notice Or Order To Any Person
• Prevention, Investigation Or Prosecution Of Crime
• Information Obtained By The Authority In The Exercise Of Its Statutory Inspection Functions
• Any Action Taken Or To Be Taken In Connection With National Security
• The Identity Of A Protected Informant

Meeting Minutes

Online posting: Not required

Content requirements: Minutes must be drawn up and signed at the same meeting or the next meeting (s. 100C). Minutes are open to public inspection and copying at the council's offices. Background papers retained for 4 years.

Recording & Broadcast

Enforcement

Sources & References

• Full text of law →
• Public Bodies (Admission to Meetings) Act 1960 →
• Openness of Local Government Bodies Regulations 2014 (SI 2014/2095) →