PKC’s virtual meeting option

Councillors will now meet virtually as a result of recent government guidance relating to Covid-19.

All political group meetings, committee meetings and council meetings have been temporarily suspended at Perth and Kinross Council.

Council leader Murray Lyle, one of the representatives for the Strathallan ward, heads up the strategic policy and resources committee and said its executive sub-committee – which includes councillors from across the political spectrum – will continue to meet, but not in public.

He said: “It may meet by conference call.

“I am not anticipating going into the council building.”

PKC is liaising closely with NHS Tayside and Cllr Lyle suspects daily crisis meetings will become the new norm.

The Conservative elected member is a farmer and drew some comparisons with how foot and mouth disease brought the industry to a standstill in 2001.

Millions of cows and sheep were killed to stop the disease and it was estimated to have cost the UK economy several billion pounds.

He said: “It was a difficult time and

I have no doubt this will be a difficult time.”

A PKC spokesperson said: “We are continuing to follow all official advice.

“We are currently asking all staff to postpone or cancel non-essential meetings, activities and events for the foreseeable future.

“This includes political group meetings, council and committee meetings – political group leaders have agreed to take essential strategic decisions virtually where possible. “This will be kept under review.

“It is important to note that these are preparatory measures to allow staff the time to build resilience by planning, training to support core services.”