Latrobe City Council in southeastern Victoria will hold its July meeting online because of disruptions at recent meetings.

“The decision to move the council meeting to an online format has been taken after careful consideration of the circumstances and has been made to ensure the orderly conduct of council proceedings and to provide an environment that fosters respectful dialogue and effective decision-making,” the council said in a statement.

“The online meeting will allow council business to proceed efficiently, while upholding the principles of good governance.”

The change is supported by laws passed during the early months of the COVID-19 pandemic allowing councils to hold virtual meetings on their websites.

Latrobe is the second Victorian council to take the step in recent months, after Yarra Ranges Council closed meetings to the public in April.

Yarra Ranges will open its meetings to the public again on July 11.

The Latrobe council has been contacted for further comment.

-with AAP