Local councils have been scrabbling to re-arrange some of their meetings to comply with the law.

The Government has decided not to extend Covid virtual meeting regulations which will result in online meetings having no legal status after May 6.

Dorset Council says that between then and June 21 ,when the rules for meetings are expected to change, it does not have any space where face to face meetings could be held while complying with current Covid safety rules. At County Hall the most it could manage, legally, would be 18 with space for only 15 in a Covid safe way by using all the committee space at South Walks House.

The best they may be able to do is continue to hold virtual meetings and make 'minded to' decisions which would then be delegated to senior council officers to enact.

After June 21 when more people are allowed to meet indoors, the councils should, in theory, be able to hold 'in person' meetings within the safety rules, although many councillors said they would be still be reluctant.

Dorset Council has brought its annual meeting forward to May 4 to avoid the changes and other local, town and parish councils, have made similar moves.

A High Court case sought to establish that remote meetings can take place within the general law, without the need for the remote meetings regulations, but a decision has yet to be announced.

Dorchester town clerk Adrian Stuart says his council's meetings plan has been re-scheduled after it was felt inappropriate to have face to face indoor meetings until at least June 21. The annual meeting, originally scheduled for May 25 will now take place on May 5 while Mayor-making on May 24 will still go ahead, but outdoors.

From July the council expects to move its meetings from the council chamber to the larger town hall to improve Covid safety.