CONCERNS have been raised about an in-person meeting planned to take place next week, amid rising Covid cases.
West Oxfordshire District Council [WODC] is set to hold its monthly council meeting in-person at Woodgreen council chamber, in Witney.
This will be the first time the council has met in the chamber since the pandemic began after previously being online or using large leisure centre halls.
Read here: West Oxfordshire overtakes Oxford to become worst affected Covid area
The decision was made after the Government removed the legislation that permits online meetings on so-called ‘Freedom Day’.
But not all councillors are happy about the decision.
Members raised issues of lack of ventilation within the chamber, small space resulting in a lack of social distancing and the fact some councillors are yet to receive their second Covid jab.
Leader of the Labour Party and Co-Op, Councillor Laetisia Carter said: “Half of our group will not be able to attend because we are not double jabbed yet – and there does seem to be a split between the Labour and Conservative groups, as we have younger councillors.
“It is a small, hot, cramped room and it won’t be safe for us.
“It’s not so much for us, we have a responsibility to our wider family and friends.”
West Oxfordshire is currently the county's worse affected Covid-19 area.
She added: “This is a dilemma with a different context of getting everybody back to the workplace.
“We are really hard-working councillors who hold surgeries, volunteer in the local community and we take the democratic process, and being part of it, very seriously, but we do not want to take unnecessary risks.”
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Liberal Democrat Group Leader Councillor Andy Graham echoed similar concerns.
He said: “I raised this issue over a week ago knowing the restrictions would be lifted and infection rates would increase.
“It is going to be worse by next week – judging by every other bad decision.
“The chamber is quite small for fifty or sixty people and there is not great ventilation.
“Some members have not even been jabbed and there are even senior members who are vulnerable, and we do not want to put them in a vulnerable situation when there are alternatives – it seems like madness.”
Mr Graham called for the meeting to be held in a leisure centre hall, where it has been held previously throughout the pandemic, or in a school hall or gym – as schools have now broken up for summer holidays.
The council is in two minds, however.
Conservative Councillor Harry Eagleston, who represents Witney West, said: “I don’t see that there should be any problem – everyone should have had their two jabs, we are all very careful, the seating will be spread out, we have hand sanitizer to put on your hands.
“Hopefully there should not be any problems.”
Leader of the council, Michele Mead, said she sympathises with those who have not been double-jabbed, but added everyone should have at least one vaccine.
She said: “The windows and doors will open so there will be ventilation – I held the cabinet meeting in there just this week.
“Chairs will be spread out so distancing can be adhered to.
“Our hands are tied slightly, and at some stage, we do need to get back to normal, with safety measures in place.
“I understand people wanting to be cautious, it’s very worrying times as the statistics prove, but we have to get back to normal business.”
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A spokesperson for WODC said: “The safety of councillors and staff remains a priority for us, and we have taken all necessary precautions to ensure that the Council Chamber is Covid safe.
"We have ensured that the chamber undergoes enhanced cleaning before and after the meeting, requested that councillors and staff wear masks whilst not seated and are encouraging all attendees to take a lateral flow test before entering the building.
"Screens are also available for those requiring added protection.
“We will continue to adhere to Government advice and guidance, whilst ensuring that the safety of our staff and councillors remains a top priority at all times.”
The public are welcome to attend the meeting.
For more details visit meetings.westoxon.gov.uk
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