Councillors in one part of Merseyside are furious with the government for refusing to allow them to continue online meetings.

Since the start of the pandemic, councils across the country have met virtually through the internet to reduce the risk of spreading COVID-19.

However, the legislation in place to allow this to happen expired last week and as the government has said it is not possible to extend it, all councils must now meet in person.

This has angered many councillors in Wirral, where meetings will be held at New Brighton's Floral Pavilion from next week, rather than the usual location of Wallasey Town Hall, as it is thought the Floral is better for social distancing.

Cllr Janette Williamson, leader of Wirral Council, said: "I am extremely disappointed that the government has taken a backward step with regards to ending online meetings.

"We have clearly shown they work well and allow for greater democratic involvement for our residents.

The Labour councillor added: "Some people would prefer to attend meetings in person, but for many others online meetings have allowed them to participate safely and more frequently.

"The ending of online meetings is in my opinion anti-democratic and I strongly urge the government to pass legislation to allow local councils to have hybrid meetings going forward. Encouraging wider participation can only be a good thing."

Liberal Democrat councillor Allan Brame agreed, calling the move to in person meetings "archaic".

Cllr Brame said: "Wallasey Town Hall cannot be made COVID-safe for council meetings – but the government insists we have to meet in person, so council staff are busily preparing the Floral Pavilion as a meeting venue with councillors dotted around the auditorium.

"We have seen the benefits of online meetings since last June, with reduced travel cutting the carbon footprint of meetings. Online meetings can be watched in real time – and members of the public have been able to question councillors and make representations about planning issues.

"Now, thanks to the government, this participation is to be denied to Wirral residents.

"We are now in the 21st century, but you wouldn't think so when you look at the archaic way we run our democracy. We don't seem to be learning any of the lessons of lockdown."

Cllr Pat Cleary, the leader of the Green Party on Wirral Council, added: "I think the government has let people down by forcing councils to meet again in person irrespective of whether it is the appropriate thing to do.

"In a situation where there are still lots of restrictions and official advice on how people should behave it is just unnecessary."

Cllr Cleary thought there could be a "democratic deficit" if certain councillors feel uncomfortable attending meetings in person due to the risk of catching the virus.

The Green Party group leader continued: "It might particularly affect smaller [political] groups on the council.

"It could also affect specific committees if some members are excluded by this, it is not acceptable and the government should have legislated on this."

However, not all councillors were so opposed to going back to in person meetings straight away.

Leader of the Conservative group on Wirral Council, Cllr Jeff Green, said that assuming it can be done in a secure way, it was "not much to ask for councillors to turn up to meetings to talk about matters of concern to the public".

Cllr Green added that it was simply a matter of the legislation coming to an end and acknowledged that the government helped local authorities to challenge the verdict that this meant in person meetings had to resume so soon, even if it was unsuccessful.

The Tory leader added: "There are good aspects of meeting online, but there have been some downsides.

"Full council online was abject nonsense, it took such an amount of time just to say everybody is there, that cut down the time to discuss matters of concern for the people of Wirral."

On the issue of a so-called 'democratic deficit', Cllr Green said: "Councillors can apply for deputies if they are unwell or have an event on which means they can't attend.

"In terms of the rules coming along the roadmap, restrictions are being relaxed and will eventually come to an end, from that point of view things worked perfectly well before the pandemic and presumably will work equally as well after the pandemic."

Responding to the concerns of councillors on this issue, a spokesperson for the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government, said: "The government recognises that in some cases remote meetings have widened access to local democracy and enabled councils to conduct essential business throughout the pandemic, and that some councils want this to continue.

"The government also has an important role in ensuring meetings continue to have arrangements in place that strengthen scrutiny and transparency in councils.

"That's why we have launched a call for evidence on remote meetings and their use during the pandemic.

"This will inform any potential next steps on legislation or guidance regarding their use in the future."