Thurrock Council will take advantage of video conferencing technology to enable certain council meetings to take place while ensuring social distancing rules are strictly followed.

Meetings will be held either completely virtually with all councillors ‘dialling in’ on video conferencing software, with some councillors in the room – sitting two metres apart – while others join online, or where small enough to allow for social distancing will take place entirely in the council chamber.

Members of the public will be able to view all meetings as they are streamed live online but will not be able to attend in person.

Leader of Thurrock Council, Rob Gledhill, said: “I am pleased to announce that a solution to holding meetings while observing social distancing has been found and implemented in time for us to follow our normal municipal calendar of meetings.

“It was vital that a solution was found that allowed for meetings to take place in a way which is safe for councillors and council officers but is also open and transparent for residents.”