City council is accused of making secret decisions on Covid response
LEEDS CITY Council has been accused by some of its members of being “secretive” in its decisionmaking around its Covid- 19 response.
The comments came during a debate on how the city was responding to the pandemic, in particular in the council’s use of the Covid Outbreak Board, which regularly meets to discuss the city’s response to the disease.
The ruling Labour administration had introduced a paper calling on councillors to note the work being undertaken at a local level to ensure businesses and individuals were being looked after during the pandemic.
But a proposed amendment to the bill, from the opposition Conservatives group, referred to the Covid Outbreak Board as “not fit for purpose” and “lacking democratic accountability” – a sentiment echoed by councillors from independent groups.
Leeds City Council leader Coun Judith Blake angrily hit back at the accusations, adding the council had been receiving “last minute” Covid- related instructions from the Government with little time to consult with members.
Leader of the opposition Conservatives group Coun Andrew Carter told a full Leeds City Council meeting: “I listened to President
elect Joe Biden yesterday on the US response to track and trace and Covid in general. He said we would follow the science and change course to wherever the science dictates.
“Here in Leeds we have the same approach taken by the British government criticised continuously – it’s not helpful.
“This is not a criticism of our partners or our officers whose briefings have been exceptional.
“The outbreak board serves a useful purpose, but it is simply a briefing and it is good, but it is not a political consultation.
“We have to minimise the democratic deficit. We have the Covid Outbreak Board – this should be used as a vehicle for proper democratic input – we can’t go on for months without a more robust mechanism for political input.
“Discussions after the event are not acceptable.”
The proposed amendment was voted down, with the original bill was voted through.