To consider the following Notice of Motion to be moved by Cllr Horrill (seconded by Cllr Godfrey):
“That the Council commends the Chief Executive and all the Council's officers for maintaining the delivery of all essential services during the COVID lockdown.
Normal engagement with Councillors has, however, been adversely affected.
In the interests of openness and transparency, we call on the Administration to arrange a full round of additional meetings, briefings and training sessions during July and August to allow Councillors and the public to regain a full understanding of what the Council has been doing and what it is planning to do in the short, medium and longer terms as the Coronavirus situation evolves over the coming months.”
Minutes:
In accordance with Council Procedure Rule 10, a Motion was submitted by Councillor Horrill as follows. The Motion was seconded by Councillor Godfrey.
“That the Council commends the Chief Executive and all the Council's officers for maintaining the delivery of all essential services during the COVID lockdown.
Normal engagement with Councillors has, however, been adversely affected.
In the interests of openness and transparency, we call on the Administration to arrange a full round of additional meetings, briefings and training sessions during July and August to allow Councillors and the public to regain a full understanding of what the Council has been doing and what it is planning to do in the short, medium and longer terms as the Coronavirus situation evolves over the coming months.”
Councillor Horrill introduced the Motion and firstly commended officers for their hard work in delivering services during the pandemic with dedication, whilst remaining flexible. All Members reciprocated with applause.
In summary, Councillor Horrill was concerned that the ‘open and transparent’ agenda promised by the administration during the previous year had yet to be envisaged. For example since the start of the pandemic, until recently, there had been few opportunities to discuss important matters with officers and fellow councillors. A break over the summer would therefore mean that the role of councillors would once again be diminished. There should be discussion and involvement in decisions of how to implement government guidance etc on the ongoing pandemic situation and also with regard to the council’s short to longer term plans.
During the debate which followed on Councillor Horrill’s Motion, in summary, the following points were raised:
· Officers had shown dedicated care and support since the start of the pandemic and should not be asked to arrange additional meetings and briefings during August as they needed a break. This was especially important in case there was a second wave of the virus in the autumn.
· The administration should use the summer months to get its plans and vision back on track, including for the post covid recovery phase. The Council Plan and the council’s major projects had seen little progress during recent months and Members should therefore be told of plans for the future.
· Cabinet members had continued to perform their usual duties as well those additional challenges presented by the pandemic. The council as a whole has also operated with a ‘business as usual’ approach and had maintained delivery of quality services throughout the crisis. The new municipal year had started with regular scheduled meetings and a series of member briefings.
· Officers need time to recuperate and councillors have been hard at work in their wards and parishes throughout the pandemic. There have been many virtual meetings and briefings arranged with councillors. The shadow cabinet was closely involved with the cabinet throughout the crisis.
· Officers had responded to the challenges of the pandemic crisis and continued to deliver high quality services. Officers had ensured that meetings and engagement events continued to take place and a full cycle of council meetings was to take place before August. Virtual meetings take longer to arrange.
· Communication on the small screen was not as easy for councillors to communicate with officers. The joint cabinet and shadow cabinet meetings and member briefing events do not have opportunities for discussion or debate. Members and the public need to be better engaged in decision making so can support the administration to tackle the challenges that it faced.
· The previous four months had changed how the council operates and officers had responded despite greater workloads and the personal impact of shielding, home schooling etc. Engagement with councillors had not been adversely affected and delivery of key services had continued. The agreed schedule of council meetings had been maintained. Officer delegated decisions and emergency powers had not been exercised. Officers need to take a break and ensure that they take their holiday entitlement.
Council then voted on the Motion, which was lost.
RESOLVED:
That the Motion as set out above be not supported.