AMAZING A&E STAFF
OUR sister, who has Down’s Syndrome, was admitted to the Macclesfield District General Hospital on November 19 with pneumonia.
In A&E and the medical assessment unit, then ward 2, Carole received the most wonderful care and support from the staff, who went out of their way to try and ensure she was as comfortable and happy as possible.
Throughout her time until she left on February 24 we were allowed to spend time on the ward supporting her with meals etc and were always made to feel welcome.
I’ve watched with admiration as staff working long hours, often under-staffed, never showed stress but managed always to talk quietly and calmly to patients despite the pressures.
We would like to thank all the hard-working staff, especially those on ward 2, for their amazing kindness to
Carole and to her family. We are so appreciative.
Janet Truema via email
CHESHIRE East Council’s recent press release triumphantly announced that it will ‘support a national petition calling on government to allow councils to decide for themselves whether to meet remotely’.
It follows a notice of motion brought to February’s council meeting by Labour councillor Sam Corcoran (council leader) and Coun Craig Browne (deputy leader, Independent).
No-one disputes remote meetings during the pandemic were, and
remain, a valuable way of conducting local council business, reducing travel time, travel costs, enabling participation and keeping us safe.
But the petition proposed by the Association of Democratic Services Officers (ADSO)and Lawyers in Local Government (LLG) is flawed stating firstly that ‘currently, local councils in England cannot hold their meetings remotely’. This is untrue. Councils increasingly work ‘remotely’ (and legally), with all the
benefits listed in the petition.
Emergency legislation that the High Court refused to reinstate last year, relates only to significant statutory and quasi-judicial decisionmaking meetings that must be held in person.
Secondly, the Labour/ Independent coalition want the law changed to allow councils the flexibility to hold such meetings ‘when they deem appropriate within agreed rules and procedures’ – worrying when the DSO and LLG fail to explain what is ‘appropriate’ or who is
going to agree the rules.
Finally, there’s the money. Last year, remote working and lower travel costs saved the council £500,000.
Last week’s budget identified further savings of £758,000 next year. But at this week’s Corporate Policy Committee, the update on workforce efficiencies revealed that only around £610,000 was currently accounted for. If the petition succeeds, planning, licensing and decision-making meetings held remotely, may be vulnerable to legal challenge.
Where councils design meeting rules they deem ‘appropriate’, democratic accountability is threatened.
What the press release does not say is that this motion got through by just one vote.