STAY HOME EVEN AFTER LOCKDOWN Council will‘rip up’budget
The leader of Perth and Kinross Council has told residents they should still stay home as much as possible even after lockdown restrictions are lifted, if the coronavirus is to be beaten.
Cllr Murray Lyle said he cannot see life returning to normal for months, despite suggestions lockdown restrictions could be eased.
He also said the council will have to pick up some of the costs of the crisis when the dust settles.
He thinks that could mean tearing up the 2020/21 budget and creating a new one.
Cllr Lyle was speaking as it was revealed the COVID-19 death rate in Perth and Kinross had risen last week.
Eleven more deaths linked to the coronavirus were registered in the region in the week up to May 10, bringing the total to 54.
This compared with a rise of five the previous week, bucking the national trend which seen a drop in deaths.
The Conservative councillor, who is currently shielding at his Perthshire farm, told the PA he suspects social distancing will be the “new normal” until there is a vaccine.
He also revealed he was “content”
withhowtheScottishGovernmenthad reacted to the crisis.
Cllr Lyle said:“We are in this for the long haul rather than the short haul.
“I am in the vulnerable category and will not be back in the chamber any time soon.”
The leaders of each political group in the council meet virtually with the chief executive and representatives from each of the different council services each week.
They will meet remotely for a full council meeting on Wednesday.
Chief executive Karen Reid currently has emergency powers and Cllr Lyle says he cannot envisage that changing any time soon.
He said:“No one is expecting a return to normal business soon - not in the next two or three months.”
Asked what his advice to the people of Perth and Kinross would be, he said: “Stay at home as much as possible even after lockdown has ended.
“We came into the crisis later and will probably leave later. I am content with how the Scottish Government is handling things.
“It’s critical we kill it (the virus) stone dead first time round. Being aware of social distancing will be the new normal until we have a vaccine.”
And while he fears the extent of COVID-19’s impact on the local economy, he is proud of how PKC responded to supporting local businesses and said he made it a priority.
He added:“There are impacts we had not even anticipated. Companies are unsure of what’s going to happen - businesses that had already been struggling and may struggle.
“We were one of the leading councils in distributing the £10,000 grants to businesses.”
Meanwhile, the number of people who have tested positive for COVID-19 is now 1540, 25 of whom are in hospital.