27 March 2020 - Covid-19 Resolutions
Chapel St Leonards Parish Council
Parish Office, Anderby Road, Chapel St Leonards, PE24 5XA.
Resolutions To Be Approved By Email Due To The Parish Council Being Unable To Meet Due To Coronavirus Pandemic
27th March 2020
1. Chairman’s Introduction
Due to the uncertainty in respect of the spread of the Covid19/Corona Virus and in order to limit any risk to members of the public, elected Members or members of staff and notwithstanding any relative Government legislation or advice from relevant medical or any public body pertaining to best and safe practice, the following items are to be Approved via e-mail as part of an ongoing contingency plan and to ensure the smooth running and operation (wherever possible) of the Parish Council over the interim period.
2. Safety Statement - meetings
That the Parish Council recognises and agrees that no business, meeting, service provision or service delivery of the Authority is of any importance above that of public and personal safety. As such all scheduled public meetings will be cancelled for an initial four-month period (or as circumstances dictate).
3. Attendance of events by Elected Members/ Staff
Where possible and when non-attendance through personal or corporate was choice was decided, apologises should be submitted by individuals
4. Suspension of Standing Orders/ Financial Regulations
That the Parish Council gives delegated authority to the Parish Clerk (in consultation with the Chairman/Vice Chairman/Committee Chairman to suspend any relevant Standing Order or Financial Regulation as necessary to ensure the smooth running and operation of the Parish Council for a period of no longer than four months, with the Clerk to compile and maintain a list of suspensions and reasons which will be presented to a future meeting of the Parish Council
5. Additional Delegated Authority – Staff Members
That the Parish Council gives additional delegated authority for a period of no longer than four months (notwithstanding relative Government legislation or medical/relevant body advice or best/safe practice)) to the Parish Clerk, in consultation with the Chairman / Vice Chairman of the respective substantive committees to:
i) undertake day to day duties (wherever possible and within legal constraints and with the best intentions of public safety and to promote infection control) in order to minimise disruption to service provision and ensure business continuity;
ii) undertake any additional duties necessary (wherever possible within legal constraints and with the best intentions of public safety and to promote infection control) in order to minimise disruption to service provision and ensure business continuity;
iii) undertake decisive actions (within legal constraints and with the best intentions of public safety and to promote infection control) in respect of cancelling any meetings of the Parish Council, its committees or working groups.
iv) To undertake decisive actions (within legal constraints and with the best intentions of public safety and to promote infection control) in respect of cancelling events or gatherings within Council operated properties
6. Annual Council Meeting / Annual Parish Meeting
That as the cancellation of meetings has a direct impact on the Annual Meeting of the Parish Council (scheduled for 11th May 2020), the roles of Chairman, Vice Chairman and the existing committee structures (including the chairmanship of such) will remain the same until a suitable and safe public meeting is called and held. Where any cancellation of meetings has a direct impact on the holding of the Annual Parish Meeting, the Parish Council will hold such meeting at a future date.
7. Orders for Payment
The Parish Clerk along with those elected Members with delegated responsibility for the authorising and signing of payments should put measures in place with robust transparency processes to ensure effective business continuation and to minimise impact on local service delivery and local business with ratification by the Parish Council to be made at the earliest and safest opportunity.
8. Planning Matters
That the Parish Clerk deals with planning applications via email and collates responses to submit to ELDC (on a majority basis).
9. Budgetary Control and Authority to Spend
To authorise an increase in the spending limit to the Parish Clerk in consultation with the Chairman/ Vice Chairman
From any item below £1,000 to any amount below £ 5,000 in respect of any emergency or Health & Safety matter.
10. Public Conveniences
That the public conveniences be closed
11. That the staff will continue with essential Tasks
a) the emptying of Bins on a rota to (within legal constraints and with the best intentions of public safety and to promote infection control)
b) the Clerk will attend the office to ensure the payment of staff salaries
12. That the elected members will check their e mails daily for updates and developments
13. General Information Updates
To keep elected Members (via email / telephone calls) and members of the public (via the Parish Council website and notice boards (where / when relevant and practicable)) updated on advice from (and as relevant):
- Central Government and the NHS
- Lincolnshire Resilience Forum (LRF) / Emergency Planning Team
- the National Association of Local Councils (NALC)
- the Lincolnshire Association of Local Councils (LALC)
- the Institute of Crematorium and Cemeteries Management (ICCM)
- any other recognised public or national body
These measures are put in place with robust transparency processes to ensure effective business continuation and to minimise impact on local service delivery and local business with ratification by the Parish Council to be made at the earliest and safest opportunity.
Signed
Cllr P Hibbert-Greaves
Chairman
Date 27/03/2020
Signed
Christine Newton
Parish Clerk
Date 27/03/2020