A SOMERSET council has granted emergency powers to its unelected officials to enable business to continue as normal during the coronavirus pandemic.

South Somerset District Council has become the first local authority in the county to grant such powers to its chief executive by changing its constitution.

The virus has resulted in numerous public meetings being cancelled, meaning elected members cannot take decisions on planning applications, licences or grant applications.

For the next three months, decisions will be taken by the chief executive through consultation with elected members – though committee meetings may be able to take place virtually.

The council’s constitution states elected members have to be “present and voting” for a decision to be binding – in other words, meetings where decisions are taken have to be held in person rather than over a conference call or via email.

Under the new system, councillors will receive reports on proposed decisions  (such as a planning application) and submit their comments electronically to the chief executive, who will then make the formal decision.

If virtual meetings can be staged there will be debate, and the press and members of the public should be given access to those meetings.

But the decisions will still be formally taken by the chief executive, or one of his senior directors, until parliament passes legislation to enable decisions to be made at virtual meetings.

Just under half of the full council convened in Yeovil on Thursday evening (March 19) to discuss the matter, with a minute’s silence being held for those who had already succumbed to the virus across the world.

Councillor Oliver Patrick – who won the recent Parrett ward by-election – was among the absentees for family reasons.

Chief executive Alex Parmley sought to reassure councillors that granting him these powers would not jeopardise the democratic process.

He said: “Clearly we are in extraordinary times. At present the organisation is holding up very well, and we’re delivering most services as normal. But we are in this for the long haul.

“Tonight I am asking that you put a considerable amount of trust in me and my directors to make decisions.

“As soon as this crisis has passed and we can go back to holding meetings, this provisions in the constitution will cease. Democracy is not being suspended here – councillors will have a role to play in making decisions.

“The government wants us to press on as far as we can with things which have an impact on our economy – getting planning decisions made, getting licensing decisions made, keeping as much going as possible and stepping up to do more to support our communities and businesses.”

Councillor Neil Bloomfield questioned whether such decisions should be taken by the leader and deputy leader of the council, rather than unelected officials.

He said: “I am concerned with just the chief executive and leader of the council making decisions, as opposed to the leader and deputy leader. The chief executive can consult you and then ignore you.

“I know a lot of people get jittery and consider it a democratic deficit when unelected bureaucrats make big decisions like this.”

He put forward an amendment to review this way of working in three months’ time, stating: “I wouldn’t want to see this run on and on.”

Mr Parmley replied: “It would be foolhardy to consult with someone like the leader and then make a decision contrary to that.”

Council leader Val Keitch added: “We are in extraordinary times. People are going to die, and we cannot have a situation where decisions cannot be made quickly.

“I am hoping that the legislation and technology that will come down will allow councillors to make decisions by virtual meetings.

“We need to get on with the business of helping people in our communities, who desperately our help now.”

Councillor Linda Vijeh urged for “clarity and communication” from the council to ensure the public understood why these powers were being granted.

She said: “Planning is not enjoying a good time at the moment. Parishes feel they have some degree of input but are not always heard – we need to be very clear about what is and isn’t being delegated.”

The council voted to accept Mr Bloomfield’s amendment, and then voted to grant Mr Parmley the emergency powers by a margin of 24 votes to one.

Similar proposals will be discussed by Sedgemoor District Council on Wednesday (March 25) and Somerset County Council on Friday (March 27).