An historic moment – Dorchester town council's planning and environment committee meeting together, in person, for the first time since March 2020.

The meeting, which also attracted a couple of members of the public, was held in the town's Weymouth Avenue cricket pavilion.

Town clerk Adrian Stuart said the venue was chosen because the town council's own chamber is too small to comply with current Government restrictions.

The only other meeting where councillors have been able to get together during the past 16 months was the mayor-making ceremony for Cllr Gareth Jones which was held in the open air in the Borough Gardens in May.

Committee chairman councillor Robin Potter said it was great to be back and said it was better to be face to face once again.

With the expected lifting of restriction from July 19, the council is now planning for its meeting to switch back from being held online to indoors.

Councillors and guests at the meeting had to wear masks when moving around, sign in for track and trace purposes and sanitise their hands. Once seated councillors were able to remove their face coverings.

Dorset Council has already held a couple of small panel meetings in person in recent weeks and says that, if restriction are lifted on July 19, it will be back in committee rooms and the council chamber at County Hall when the public and press will be able to attend in person.

"We are hoping to be broadcasting these meetings online so that members of the public and press can watch live online or catch up on YouTube, if that is more convenient for them than attending in person.

"However, in line with current legislation which does not currently allow for council committee meetings to be held in a hybrid way, members will need to attend in person – if all restrictions are lifted on July 19," said a Dorset Council spokesman.