Agenda item

Covid-19

Councillor Matthew Dormer proposed a Motion in respect of Covid-19 and the response of various agencies to the pandemic.  This Motion was seconded by Councillor Bill Hartnett.

In proposing the Motion Councillor Dormer commented that Covid-19 had had a negative impact on the Borough.  He thanked staff working for the NHS, pharmacies, key workers, local volunteers and Council staff for all their hard work during the lockdown and for the efforts that had been made to tackle the impact of the virus in the Borough.

In seconding the Motion Councillor Hartnett advised that there had been plans to propose this Motion in the spring, though the lockdown had resulted in a delay.  Councillor Hartnett commented that during the lockdown there had been a number of tragedies which had impacted on people living in the local community.  He welcomed the acts of kindness, support and courage that had been evident amongst NHS staff, key workers, pharmacies, supermarket staff and local volunteers and he thanked them for their hard work.  The Motion provided Members with an opportunity to thank all residents and businesses for their efforts during the lockdown.  Thanks were also extended to local community groups that had helped people who were self-isolating as well as Council staff for their hard work.

Members subsequently discussed the Motion in detail and in doing so noted the following:

·                The hard work of the emergency services during the lockdown, particularly NHS staff.

·                The contributions that had been made by Voluntary and Community Sector (VCS) groups and volunteers during the lockdown.  Specific reference was made to groups such as the Batchley Support Group, Church Hill Together, the Support Redditch Emergency Network and the Astwood Bank Neighbours group.

·                The personal impact that the pandemic had had on some Members in respect of their families and the work of NHS staff and key workers to support Covid-19 patients and vulnerable people.

·                The hard work of Council staff during the lockdown, which had ensured that essential services continued to be delivered to residents throughout the crisis.

·                The actions of Redditch residents, whose compliance with social distancing and lockdown rules had ensured that the number of cases of Covid-19 diagnosed in the Borough had been lower than some other parts of the country.

·                The emotional and physical impact that the Covid-19 pandemic had had on people and the action that had been taken to support people during this time.

·                The benefits of multi-agency working during the lockdown.

·                The support that had been provided by the West Midlands Ambulance Trust to vulnerable patients.

·                The work of Worcestershire Hearts of Joy in respect of delivering food parcels in the community.

·                The challenges for teachers in terms of educating pupils during the lockdown and the impact that the pandemic had had on young people.

RESOLVED that

this Council recognises the Coronavirus epidemic as a major public health incident that is adversely impacting the residents and businesses of the Borough. 

In responding to the crisis, Council records its sincere thanks to the NHS, our Council's officers, emergency service workers, supermarket staff, community groups and the countless volunteers across Redditch who have provided relief and aid to our valued communities. 

Council also acknowledges the work of the Council’s frontline staff, colleagues and volunteers.