MAJOR decisions could soon be made by public bodies over the phone or video conferences - rather than at public meetings.

West Yorkshire Combined Authority will meet remotely next Thursday - with a recording of the meeting to be streamed on YouTube for the public to view.

One of the issues that will be discussed is a new legislation that will allow Councils and other public bodies to forego the normal meeting process during the current Coronavirus pandemic.

The Local Authorities and Police and Crime Panels (Coronavirus) Regulations 2020 came into effect on Saturday and apply until May 7 2021.

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The Authority, made up of representatives from public bodies including the five West Yorkshire Councils, will be presented with an update on the situation shortly before the meeting.

The initial report to the authority says: "The current meeting schedule for the Authority and its committees and subcommittees together with the proposed calendar of meetings for the next municipal year is now being reviewed in the light of the Regulations, taking into account the need to balance resource implications consequential upon the pandemic and required to ensure essential business continues whilst upholding democratic principles and protecting the health and safety of members, officers and the public in line with official public health guidance."

The Combined Authority is responsible for funding and planning transport, regeneration and infrastructure projects throughout West Yorkshire.

Since the Coronavirus lockdown a number of key meetings have been cancelled. These include panels to discuss how to make public transport more affordable for young people, meetings that would have approved a number of investments in local projects and businesses, and the Green Economy panel - which discusses what is needed to make West Yorkshire a greener place.