Press Release - Covid - Emergency Powers 27.04.2020

Emergency powers for States of Alderney 'remote' meetings are now enacted

A Statutory Instrument enabling States of Alderney meetings to be conducted remotely has now been enacted.

It amends Emergency Powers Regulations to set out how full States meetings can operate while the community seeks to minimise the risk of spreading Coronavirus.

Alderney already has provision under Emergency Powers Regulations to conduct its Committee meetings remotely, as was the case with the recent Policy & Finance meeting on April 23.

As expected, the Regulations confirm that People's Meetings need not be convened during the crisis but it makes provision for written comments by members of the public on Billet items. These will be summarised by a States Member during the remote States meeting.

States Members will 'meet' by using remote technology from their homes, chaired as usual by the President with voting recorded by the Greffier. Five or more of the 10 Members are required to be logged on to form a quorum - the minimum number of Members required to debate and cast their vote.

Provision has been made for proxy voting in the event of any member being unable to attend remotely.

There is no requirement for the meeting to be held in public and if it is found that procedures could be made to work more smoothly, the Policy & Finance Committee has the authority to change them.

"These changes enable the States to function during these extraordinary times," said President William Tate. "They are not permanent changes to the way we do things but they will enable the proper business of the States to be carried out during a period where it is impossible to meet together in one place."

The next States meeting is scheduled for May 13.

The new regulations were approved by the Bailiwick's Civil Contingencies Authority (CCA) and can be withdrawn when the time is right by the same process.