Election update - Broadcast of council committees postponed
Following the announcement of the General Election, public bodies must adhere to guidance around planned Government and council business during the pre-election period. Councils are subject to legal rules as well as guidance.
Stringent restrictions are in place when the Notice of Election is published - which was Friday 31 May. Normally, all council meetings are broadcast live and recorded. However, in the lead up to the election, live broadcast of council meetings will be postponed until after the General Election. All meetings will continue to be recorded in full, as normal, and recordings will be made available after the General Election.
As always, members of the public can attend, to watch, in person, council and committee meetings. Those are not affected. Almost all of those meetings take place at the Civic Centre. You can see the diary of committees at:
What is the pre-election period?
The pre-election period describes the period of time immediately before elections or referendums when specific restrictions on communications activity are in place. It is sometimes called "purdah" in connection with the UK parliamentary elections.
About the pre-election guidance
During this period, certain restrictions apply to various public bodies and individuals, including MPs, civil servants, and local authorities.
For general elections, the pre-election period begins when Parliament is dissolved and political campaigning starts. For the upcoming general election on 4 July, the pre-election period began on Friday 31 May.
Does the pre-election period for a general election also apply to local authorities?
Yes, law and guidance apply to all local authorities in the UK.
