The number of public meetings held by Rutland County Council is declining rapidly and set to be half the number convened three years ago. 

Analysis by the Local Democracy Reporting Service has found the number of meetings held by Rutland County Council has dropped drastically since 2021. 

In the civic year from May 2021 to April 2022, the authority, which was then led by a Conservative administration, held 96 public meetings across the 12 month calendar.  

In the most recent 2023-24 civic year, 61 meetings were held. So far in the first six months of this year from May to October 25 public meetings have been held, and if that trajectory continues, then 50 meetings will be held. 

The authority, which has been run by a Liberal Democrat administration since the elections in May 2023, says the drop is partly down to efficiency reasons. 

Councillor Gale Waller is currently the leader of Rutland County Council. (Photo: Nub News)

Questions were put to the leader Cllr Gale Waller (Lib Dem), but a general statement has been issued which said: "In recent years, Rutland County Council has reviewed its programme of meetings to make sure the authority is operating as efficiently as possible and providing best value for taxpayers' money. 

"This is a process which involved all councillors, resulting in a move to bi-monthly full council meetings and the consolidation of three separate scrutiny panels into one overview and scrutiny committee. 

"The council continues to fulfil all its statutory and constitutional duties – providing full transparency and accountability by taking all of the public decisions it is required to take in open meetings." 

In 2021-22, 17 scrutiny meetings were held. The scrutiny groups analyse the policy of the council before it is approved by the cabinet. Those groups can also do a deep dive into any particular subject areas or issues. 

In 2022-23, there were 10 scrutiny meetings, the following year six and so far since May there have been four meetings. 

The council has not held a public meeting since October 17 and cancelled a planning meeting scheduled for October 22 and the scrutiny meeting which was due for this Thursday (November 7).  

This month the authority has five meetings lined up in comparison with neighbouring Leicestershire County Council which will meet 13 times during the same period. While the authority may run services for a larger population, it still has the same statutory responsibilities as the Rutland authority.