COUNCILLORS could formally return to the chamber in Argyll and Bute by Christmas after a report revealed plans for ‘hybrid’ meetings to take place.

Equipment is currently being installed at the council’s headquarters in Lochgilphead which will allow members to either attend meetings in person, or join remotely.

It is acknowledged that such an arrangement will offer “much greater flexibility” for councillors, many of whom have a round trip of more than 100 miles to and from the authority’s headquarters.

Meetings have been held remotely since March 2020 due to the Covid-19 pandemic, with the council recently switching to Microsoft Teams software to include a video function.

That arrangement is set to continue until a full council meeting on Thursday, November 25, when a further update will be given.

The plans were discussed by the full council at its virtual meeting last Thursday.

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The only core council committee meetings due to take place before November 25 are the policy and resources committee on Thursday, October 14, and two meetings of the planning, protective services and licensing committee.

Executive director Douglas Hendry said: “The equipment which will facilitate hybrid meetings to take place in the council chambers is in course of being installed and it is expected that installation and testing will be complete by mid-October 2021.

“Once testing is complete there will be a period of training for staff and familiarisation for members which is expected to be complete by the end of October 2021.

“This will allow participants at meetings which are held in the council chamber to choose to either attend in person or to join the meeting using Microsoft Teams, dependent on the council’s decision in relation to amendments to the council constitution to accommodate arrangements for hybrid meetings. This will offer much greater flexibility for members and officers.

“It is proposed to carry out a number of ‘mock’ meetings in advance of going live with any hybrid/live streaming of formal meetings.”

Neighbouring West Dunbartonshire Council held its first ‘hybrid’ full council meeting last week.