Stafford council sets out plan for coronavirus recovery

The authority should also make face masks available to all borough residents at cost price and provide hand sanitiser in all its public buildings, as well as sanitation equipment and masks for homeless people and vulnerable groups, Stafford Borough Labour Group has said, as part of a list of actions put forward to a Resources Scrutiny Committee meeting.

There was also a call to avoid increasing fees and charges in order to compensate for a drop in income during the lockdown from sources such as car parks.

But a number of members of the council’s controlling Conservative group said at the meeting a number of the actions requested were already taking place – and others such as mortgage schemes were being carried out by other organisations.

Stafford Borough Council is planning recovery from the Covid-19 pandemic at the same time it is in the “response” stage, chief executive Tim Clegg told the meeting.

“This is not something that has gone away but it is something we are living with”, he added. “Many of our office-based staff are still working from home and we are looking at a time when we will be able to introduce staff in numbers back to the civic centre.

“Longer-term we want to make the borough better than it was – we are not just looking to go back to normal. We want a recovery as ambitious as our other plans and look for opportunities to make life better for people.

“A key part of that will be sustainability and we are bringing a draft climate change strategy to cabinet as early as September.

“We continue to work with licensees and local businesses to support and advise them on the best ways to be safe from Covid-19. We are also applying for funding from the Reopening High Streets Safely fund for funding for two officers to support businesses.”

In a member’s item put forward to the committee by opposition group leader Councillor Aidan Godfrey Stafford Borough Labour Group also called upon the council’s ruling administration to take 28 “essential actions” as part of the recovery planning process.

Councillor Godfrey said: “These actions are designed to alleviate the current problems being experienced by residents within the borough and help to ease potential problems post the Covid-19 pandemic crisis.

“Each of the sections is designed to be implemented by Stafford Borough Council working in conjunction with central government, local organisations and private business. The aims and objectives of this submission are for the Council to help businesses, charities, community groups and individuals, with the common theme of fairness and wellbeing for all.

“After the pandemic the economy is the next crisis to befall the borough. It is essential the poor and vulnerable do not suffer disproportionately.

“Our communities within the borough must be helped as much as possible to get through this pandemic crisis and financial calamity. The council have the links to local organisations; these links must be used to help in this emergency.

“Of course, the council needs financial help from central Government, and it is hoped this will be forthcoming. We do not underestimate the scale of the task before us but the local authority must be the glue that binds our borough’s whole recovery together.”

But Councillor Ray Sutherland said: “I’m quite surprised to see this report – the issues as far as I can see have been dealt with in the proposed structure of dealing with Covid-19. We are already supporting the track and trace system as part of our responsibility in the local outbreak plan.

“Stafford Borough Council has provided support to local businesses. Voluntary groups are making masks and many residents are quite happy to provide their own. Where there are homeless and vulnerable people presenting themselves to the borough council for assistance we provide the required face coverings for them if they need to use public transport.”

Councillor Roy James said: “Not all fees are set by the council and our fees are based on cost recovery. If a cost goes up there may be a requirement to put fees up – I’m not saying we will but we may have to because of cost recovery.”