Councillors 'disgust' at having to meet

Torbay calls for online sessions as Omicron rises

With covid cases skyrocketing around the UK, a Torbay councillor has expressed “absolute disgust” at the government’s refusal to allow councils to meet virtually. 

Speaking at an in-person Torbay cabinet meeting, Councillor Cordelia Law (Liberal Democrats, Tormohun) said she wanted to put on record her “absolute disgust” that Torbay Council, in common with councils around the country, had to continue to meet in person, despite escalating covid risks.

She said: “We need to ask ourselves why we are being forced to take this unnecessary public health risk by being here tonight?

"I’ll tell you why. It is because Boris Johnson and his so-called government have repeatedly failed since last May to put in place the legislation that would enable councils around the country the flexibility to hold decision-making meetings remotely when it is necessary, just like it is necessary now.”

She added: “In my opinion, it is a total neglect of this government’s responsibilities to local authorities and their employees.”

According to the latest complete seven-day period (to Friday 10 December), Torbay’s case rate was at 590 per 100,000 of the population, 15 per cent higher than the national average.

On Wednesday 15 December, 78,000 new cases were recorded across the UK in the previous 24-hour period, the highest number since the pandemic began.

Nevertheless, following a High Court ruling, most local councils  have been meeting in-person since 7 May.

Some have decided on short-term measures to work around the issue. East Devon District Council holds virtual meetings that reach ‘indicative decisions’ which are then rubber-stamped by the chief executive or senior officers.

Cllr Law said the failure of the government to respond with new legislation was symptomatic of how they have handled the pandemic.

Cllr Law told cabinet: “If this government had spent more time on the serious busies of government during a global pandemic and less time going on holidays at various times of crisis, partying, day trips to castles and allegedly finding ways to benefit themselves and friends during the pandemic, then maybe we wouldn’t be sat here endangering the health of one another and those we love and potentially having to cancel Christmas because we caught covid because the government hadn’t managed to renew the necessary legislation that would keep us all safe.”

The cabinet member for children’s services explained how during the pandemic she had been unable to attend the funerals of two family members because of restrictions. She said this made it even more difficult to stomach apparent breaches senior members of the government.

Cllr Law highlighted a recent study by the Local Government Association (LGA) which found that 72 per cent of councils saw a drop in councillors' attendance at meetings since councils were legally forced to meet in person. The study also found that 73 per cent of councils had also seen a drop in public attendance. 

The LGA has urged government to introduce emergency legislation allowing councils to meet and make decisions virtually or through so-called hybrid meetings, where members can attend in person or remotely.

Cllr Law won’t be holding her breath for a result, “even if that is probably the safest thing to do.”

A spokesperson for the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities said: “We recognise there will be concerns about the risks of holding face-to-face meetings. It is for councils to apply the covid-19 guidance and ensure meetings take place safely.

“The government will work closely with councils and representatives to ensure they understand and are aware of the full range of options available to them to minimise risks and concerns.

“We have considered the responses to the call for evidence which closed on 17 June to gather views and inform a longer-term decision about whether to make express provision for councils to meet remotely on a permanent basis and we will be responding shortly.”