Stafford councillors to hold live meetings via Zoom
Stafford Borough Council members will get an update on how the authority is responding to the coronavirus pandemic during their their first virtual planning meeting next week.
Councils in Cannock Chase and South Staffordshire have already held meetings via video conference to make decisions on planning applications – and Stafford Borough’s authority will be following suit on Wednesday, May 6 at 3pm.
While many council services across the country have been temporarily suspended, such as libraries and leisure centres, the planning process has continued, with staff working from home and meetings being held 'virtually'.
Members of the public will be able to view Wednesday’s proceedings online via video conferencing app Zoom and planning applications can still be inspected on the council’s website.
On Tuesday, May 5, Stafford Borough Council will hold its monthly cabinet meeting – also at 3pm. The cabinet held its first remote meeting by teleconference last month and residents can find out more about Tuesday’s proceedings by visiting www.staffordbc.gov.uk/committeemeetings.
Council leader Patrick Farrington and his five fellow cabinet members will give details and feedback from the portfolios, which cover communities and health, economic development and planning, environment, leisure and resources.
The authority has spent the past few weeks working with volunteers to help vulnerable residents currently unable to leave their homes. Tasks have included delivering food, checking that residents are safe and well, dog walking and even gardening – and some council staff unable to carry out their usual jobs have been stepping in to assist with this support.
The council has also been distributing Government grant funding to businesses in the borough that have needed support after being forced to temporarily close during the lockdown.
Councillor Farrington said: “There is an enormous amount of work going on across the council in response to this crisis. It is the biggest challenge I have faced as leader but I’m pleased at how everyone has risen to that challenge
“There are things we are now delivering that we were not even thinking about a couple of months ago, there are services which have had to adapt significantly because of new guidance or regulations, and we have people carrying out tasks which have nothing to do with their normal day to day jobs.
“It is important that the process of open government continues in these difficult circumstances and our cabinet meeting is a good opportunity to let people hear what the role of their local authority is during this pandemic.”
