COUNCILS across the county are preparing for life after lockdown as emergency legislation allowing meetings to be held online looks set to end next month.

The government has said it will not be renewing laws that allowed councils to move public council meetings online in the wake of the Covid pandemic – a move that will mean public meetings could be start to be held at venues across Worcestershire after elections on May 6.

Worcestershire County Council said it will be moving back to holding meetings in person next month but will ensure that current government guidelines are met.

Wychavon and Malvern Hills District Councils said plans were being made to return to face-to-face meetings after May 6 but hoped meetings would stay online until lockdown limits were completely removed on June 21 at the earliest.

Lawyers in local government, the Association of Democratic Services Officers and Hertfordshire County Council have asked the High Court to make a declaration on whether they can continue to hold meetings remotely after May 6.

A spokesman for Worcester City Council said talks are still ongoing but was supporting the legal challenge against the move.

A spokesperson for Worcestershire County Council said: “As per our legal obligation, when the current regulations end on May 6, our meetings will revert back to being held in person.

“We’re working hard to ensure that meetings, once they return to being in person, follow current Covid guidance and meet the necessary requirements regarding wearing face coverings, numbers of people in one room at one time, and social distancing.

“This does mean that whilst we will try to accommodate meetings at County Hall, some are likely to be held elsewhere to ensure we meet the current guidance from central government.

“We’re also aiming to continue broadcasting our meetings online to members of the public via the council’s YouTube channel.”

Vic Allison, chief executive at Malvern Hills and Wychavon District Councils, said: “We will comply with the legislation in force at this time and we are therefore making plans for Covid-19 safe, face-to-face meetings after May 6.”