Ceredigion County Council will continue with hybrid meetings after the pandemic, allowing members of the public to watch remotely, after receiving funding from the Welsh Government.

A report put before the council’s Democratic Services Committee on 15 October said that from March next year, broadcast of meetings will be necessary under the revised Local Government and Elections (Wales) Bill.

Online and broadcast meetings have replaced in-person meetings during the pandemic.

The report said: “Ceredigion County Council has successfully applied for funding from the Welsh Government Digital Democracy Fund to cover the cost of purchase for the installation of hardware, which will support software for which will support hybrid meetings, with translation in addition to broadcasting.

“The tender process is now complete, and we are in the process of installing the necessary hardware to support the hybrid meetings software, which will take place during November.”

Pre-pandemic, Ceredigion council put up live streams of its in-person Cabinet and full council meetings, while during the pandemic, residents have been able to watch, and re-watch, those meetings via Facebook with councillors meeting remotely.

The council said it is “currently awaiting guidance from the Welsh Government with regards to which meetings will be required to be broadcasted.”