A Personal Note
I am a parish councillor in my local area within Milton Keynes. During the lockdown I was able to participate in meetings and represent my constituents, as we used « Teams » for online meetings. Members of the public could see us in action - and as we do in physical meetings, there was a part of the meeting at which residents could speak.
Although the pandemic is not over - the Government has moved to force councils to drop on-line meetings, and REQUIRE physical meetings. Any member of a council who doesn’t attend in person cannot participate in proceedings or represent their constituents. That would be fine (if not ideal) in ordinary times but in the middle of a pandemic that is appalling. Of course there are plenty of councillors who are themselves healthy, and who have no vulnerable family members, but there are some who do. The Government has refused to listen to them, or the many councils across England who opposed this move. A court case was brought, but it ruled that the Government was entitled to do this, if it so wished.
I won’t be going to Council meetings for a while. I, and my constituents have been disenfranchised. My « bubble » is small - but includes close members of my family who are at greater risk because of existing conditions. I’d happily join an online meeting (well that’s not true - I don’t like Microsoft Teams - Zoom is easier & more comfortable to use - but I WILL attend), but that choice has been withdrawn. I’m not alone - and despite many pleas from councils and our colleagues - the Government has refused to wait until we are sure that this virus had been beaten.
Today sees a further easing of restrictions - and I’m pleased about this, but as we’ve seen over the last few days, a new variant threatens to derail progress - we may be back in lockdown soon. (Oh, and more people will die - less than previously, thanks to vaccination - but some, those who are most vulnerable, will die). However, parish, district & county councils can only meet physically now.
I finish with these words I read a few minutes ago in one of today’s newspapers -
« People should ignore Monday’s easing of lockdown in parts of the UK and avoid socialising indoors in pubs and restaurants to prevent the new Covid-19 variant first detected in India sparking a third wave of the disease, health experts say. »
But the Government won’t move on its decision to exclude some duly elected councillors from their council meetings.
