The delivery of council services throughout lockdown has been very difficult. Now we’re moving into the recovery phase, requiring risk assessments prior to services restarting, to ensure that it is safe for both staff and the public to engage. These include the reopening of markets and the Museum, the Council’s shopmobility service and, in the longer term, the opening of all shops, restaurants, pubs and outlets providing personal services like hairdressers, nail bars and others.

The performance of the democratic function has also been radically changed. As staff found themselves having to work from home, so too did Councillors. Many also found themselves in shielded groups who were forced to stay at home. Meetings had to become virtual, which required the testing and useful functioning of new software platforms, such as Zoom and Skype.

Within only a few weeks the new regime was coming together and a number of meetings have successfully taken place. Residents are also able to take part in these virtual meetings, as they could when they were physical meetings. Details of how to do this are available on the Council’s website.

Dealing with the impact of the virus locally has increased costs for the Council, as we have had to spend much more on continuing to supply services. Of considerable worry is the fact that some businesses have been unable to pay rates and rents, some residents are having difficulty with their council tax, car parking revenue is severely reduced and many other fees and charges have dried up, which means the Council’s finances will be seriously disrupted unless government compensates.

As we look forward to a hoped-for lifting of most aspects of the lockdown, we have to recognise that the virus still remains. This means social distancing has to continue and we must all continue to take care to protect ourselves and those we come into contact with.

At the time of writing, this means we should try to keep a distance of two metres from all those outside our household, and if that is not possible, a distance of one metre is acceptable, provided other means of keeping an adequate level of personal safety, such as masks, are employed. We can work together and successfully do this.