Councils across England will be able to hold public meetings using video or telephone conferencing during the coronavirus pandemic.
Legal requirements for local authorities to hold public meetings in person will be relaxed by the government from Saturday April 4.
It is hoped that this will allow councils to maintain transparency in making decisions on key services for residents, while also stopping the virus from spreading and saving lives.
New laws stopping by-elections, local polls and referendums being held before May 6 2021 are also being drawn up, with local, mayoral and police and crime commissioner elections already postponed until next year.