Somerset West and Taunton Councilis holding tonight’s and next month’s full council meetings at Oake Manor Golf Club to ensure safe social distancing.

The spacious conference facilities at Oake Manor can accommodating up to 58 councillors plus members of the public, which is not possible using the existing Council Chamber.

This change applies only to the full council meetings scheduled for September 7 (postponed from July) and October 5. All other committee meetings, which are smaller in size, will take place as normal in the Council Chamber at Deane House, Taunton.

The conference room will be arranged in a theatre style with a signed one-way system in place to enter and exit the building. Sanitising stations and QR posters or sign-in sheets to register attendance will be available.

Face coverings will be required when unseated. To encourage ventilation, the aircon will be in operation as well as the outer doors being left open.

In addition to the chairman’s microphone system, two roaming mics will be available for speakers, which will be sanitised by administrative staff between use.

Instead of being webcasted, this evening’s meeting will begin at 6.15pm but will be live-streamed using the council’s Facebook page.

Members of the public who previously asked questions or requested to make statements in line with the council’s public participation scheme will be able to attend to do so.

The meeting is also open to people wishing to observe in person, however, to help prevent the transmission of Covid-19, it is advised they view the event remotely via the live stream from the safety of their own home.

Both meetings will also be recorded and uploaded to the council’s webcasting page for anyone wishing to watch it retrospectively.