Councillors socially distance to grant emergency powers

Emergency powers to deal with Coronavirus have been approved in Sunderland.

Bosses at Sunderland City Council have given the green light to a package of measures granting council chief executive Patrick Melia responsibility for decisions usually made by elected councillors.

The new regime is expected to be in place until June at least, when it is hoped the outbreak will have passed its peak on Wearside.

“We have robust plans in place to keep services and support going in an emergency situation,” said council leader Graeme Miller.

“These have swung into action and colleagues are working tirelessly to keep critical services operating at the front line, backed up by all that needs to happen behind the scenes.”

He added: “We have to be ready – and we will be ready – to keep critical health and social care and environmental services going and any other service that must continue in order to keep Sunderland’s residents safe and supported.”

Coin Miller was speaking at a meeting of the city council on March 25.

The session was attended by just 25 out of a total of 74 sitting councillors, who kept several seats between themselves to comply with social distancing guidelines.

Coun Miller also revealed the new measures will be ‘subject to renewal by the council at the next opportunity we have to convene’, following an appeal by Coun Niall Hodson, leader of the city’s Liberal Democrat opposition group.

Coun Miller said: “I would like to thank him [Coun Hodson] for that conversation, it is important we have a mechanism, as a council, to come back on this.

“We couldn’t consider doing this in May as the Mayor Making may not happen and May is also likely to be the peak of COVID in Sunderland.

“Coun Hodson agreed we could look to do this at the first available opportunity, the point he made about scrutiny was very important and I agree with him.”

Coun Robert Oliver, leader of the city council’s Conservative opposition group, also backed the proposals in light of the ‘unprecedented and highly uncertain times’ and approved the additional safeguards.