CONCERNS for the health of councillors has led to calls for public meetings to be stopped during the coronavirus crisis.

Richard Webber, of the Oxfordshire County Council Liberal Democrat group, made the call in letter to council leader Ian Hudspeth and chief executive Yvonne Rees.

Meanwhile, two district councils in southern Oxfordshire have postponed all meetings until the end of March.

The letter sent on behalf of the Lib Dem group said there was a case for taking three steps to delay the spread of the virus.

READ MORE about events which have been cancelled by Coronavirus precautions here

These steps were:

  • Cancelling or postponing all public meetings wherever possible 
  • Insisting that all employees work from home wherever possible 
  • That all other meetings take place using conference calling

Mr Webber's letter said that 'of the 63 county councillors, more than 75 per cent are themselves in the higher risk categories'.

Oxford Mail:

Most of Oxfordshire's county councillors are aged 50 and above, and some are in their 70s.

Public health bodies around the world have said the virus is more dangerous for people aged 60 and above as immune systems often become weaker with age.

Mr Webber has called on other political groups to support the steps in his letter.

ALSO READ: New Thames bridge plan for Oxford

A county council spokesman said: “We would like to provide reassurance that we are undertaking all required next steps in a planned and appropriate way in line with current and future government guidance.

"We recognise the concerns in our communities and we will always put the needs of our residents, staff and councillors at the forefront of our planning.”

What Oxfordshire's district councils are doing

While the county council is carrying on as normal for now, other councils in Oxfordshire have different responses to the coronavirus.

Oxford City Council's Chief Executive, Gordon Mitchell said: "This is a fast changing situation and so we will keep things under review in the light of any changes to government advice, always seeking to strike an appropriate balance of interests between the needs of residents, businesses, employees and councillors."

The council is planning for its office staff to work from home, but for others like environmental health officers  and bin men this will not be possible.

South Oxfordshire and the Vale of White Horse councils have postponed all formal meetings until the end of March.

A spokesman said the councils will 'review the plan for meetings scheduled after the end of the month in due course', and will consider government advice at the time.

Leisure events and activities at council arts centres involving older and vulnerable people have also been cancelled.

Staff members are also working from home where possible.

In West Oxfordshire, a council spokesman said all meetings this week will go ahead, but added it was 'actively reviewing the situation' based on the latest government advice.

Approximately one-third of WODC employees will work from home on each day this week to help the council test its home working arrangements ahead of plans to make everyone work from home.

Holding meetings remotely

According to the MJ, a trade magazine for local authorities, plans to allow councils to hold their meetings remotely are being considered by the government.

At the moment, councillors can join meetings remotely, but cannot vote on council decisions unless they are in the room.