Covid concerns as meetings resume
Virtual meetings to end on May 7
FEARS have been raised over Covid-safety when face-toface council meetings resume
PLANS to force local councils to resume face-to-face meetings have been blasted by city officials, accusing government of putting the safety of councillors and the public 'at risk' of Covid-19.
The government has confirmed emergency powers to hold virtual meetings using video conferencing — that were granted to councils last year due to the pandemic — will no longer exist as of May 7.
Without them it means councils of all levels will have to return to meetings held in halls and chambers to allow the democratic process to continue, with the virtual alternative no longer allowed.
Minister of state for local government, Luke Hall MP, said councils would be ‘given the support and guidance they need to do so in a safe and secure way.’
However, the Covid roadmap set out by government only allows groups of up to 30 people to meet outside from May 17 — and MPs will be able to hold remote meetings until June 21.
Portsmouth City Council will be holding its annual general meeting on May 18 at which is it is expected all 42 councillors should attend.
Council leader, Councillor Gerald Vernon-Jackson, said: ‘Sometimes our meetings go on for 10 hours and we've got people sitting right next to each other — to me it seems a hotbed for spreading infection.
‘It would have taken government five minutes to use some common sense and just extend it the powers to not put people at risk.’
His deputy, Cllr Steve Pitt, added: ‘Proposing to put everyone including councillors, staff and members of the public into these rooms is unsafe. It is also totally disruptive to the democratic process because if someone is high risk they're not going to be able to attend.
‘I look forward to seeing a jam-packed House of Commons as of May 7.’
The decision is set to be challenged in court by the Local Government Association (LGA).
Cllr James Jamieson, LGA chairman, said: ‘We urge the government to reverse this decision and not force councils to have to hold Covid-19 secure face-to-face council meetings until all restrictions are lifted.’
A spokeswoman for Portsmouth City Council said the authority was ‘reviewing the updated guidance on holding public meetings and will confirm its plans in due course.’
Yesterday saw the biggest easing of Covid restrictions since back before Christmas. And with a gorgeous sunny day and the warmest weather so far this year, it couldn’t have been scripted better.
It was the perfect day for people to enjoy getting together in our parks or on the beach to enjoy a walk or a chat with family and friends they haven’t seen face-to-face since before what turned out to be a long, hard winter.
We are also allowed to take part in some outdoor sports again – which is probably something many of us wanted, and something many more of us need after months of prohibitions on our movements.
The number of positive tests are continuing to drop, as are the numbers of Covid-related deaths, and pressures are slowly easing on our hospitals, while the vaccination programme has so far been a great success.
Of course, there have been warnings of a slow-down in the rate of people getting their first jab, but there’s been no cause to hit the panic button on that front just yet.
The next big hurdle comes on April 12. Let’s hope we can all keep our heads, avoid unnecessary risks and continue the slow march back to normalcy.
it does however, seem strange that while the public at large is being urged to exercise restraint, stick to the rule of six, and so on, our councillors are being instructed to abandon virtual meetings and to return to the council chamber.
Many of us have managed to adapt to online video conferencing over the past year – some better than others (Hello, Handforth Parish Council!).
While they’re not as good as being there in the flesh, they are a more than adequate alternative.
Yes, in-person meetings should return, but only when it is safe – and not contrary to the rules everyone else will still be under come May 7.