Flouting and flexing of restriction rules could be fatal
Matt Hancock – Health Minister
Re: Alverdiscott & Huntshaw Parish Council meeting 13th Jan.2021
I am writing this as your concerned District Councillor after the above meeting when 3 persons joined the meeting at Staines Trailers office in Huntshaw – one a resident of Woolsery, one a resident of Bideford, and one a resident of Alverdiscott/Huntshaw.
Whilst I appreciate that Mr.Staines and Mr.Thorpe may have been at work all day on site , the resident from the parish should not have been present at this office. Strict restrictions say “nobody can meet anyone from outside their household or support bubble indoors” this means that there were 3 different households meeting on site.
Parish and Town Council meetings are still to be held via zoom or other suitable platform as advised by NALC, SLCC and DALC (National Assoc.of Local Councils, Society of Local Council Clerks, and Devon Assoc. of Local Councils) Torridge District Council and indeed the Government recommendation is that you should work from home wherever possible – and the definition of a “key worker” has been changed to “critical workers involved in the pandemic”.
Whilst Mr.Thorpe has informed the Parish Council that the office premises have had the benefit of a Health & Safety Executive visit and there were no areas that needed improvement – this absolutely does not override the strict covid restriction rules concerning working from home and nobody can meet anyone from outside their household or support bubble indoors.
The next Parish Council meeting is scheduled for Wed.17th February 2021- perhaps restrictions may have altered either way by that date who knows – but in the meantime please abide by the restriction rules – because flouting or flexing of the rules could be fatal With the rapid rolling out of injections now is not the time to become complacent.
In the meantime please contact me on any matter that you have concerns about , stay safe and see you on 17th February at the virtual parish council meeting.
Regards Dist.Cllr. Rosemary Lock