19 March 2020

COVID-19: Changes to services and meetings

COVID-19: Changes to services and meetings

SOME council services and meetings have been scaled back as the coronavirus outbreak escalates.

The council's Strategy and Finance Committee met on Wednesday evening (18 March) to discuss how the council could continue to provide services and make decisions during this difficult period.

Council meetings have now been suspended until further notice and the annual meeting of electors, scheduled to take place on 17 April, has been postponed to a date on or before 1 June.

The council legally has to hold the meeting of electors by 1 June but national groups are discussing emergency legislation with the Government.

The council has also put new arrangements in place which will allow the town clerk to make decisions and incur additional expenditure following consultation with members, with all decisions then being recorded and made public.

The Charmouth Road park and ride service will be cancelled until the beginning of the school summer holidays, although this will be reviewed as time progresses.

The amenities area in Lister Gardens (mini golf, table tennis, putting green) has been closed for the foreseeable future and staff will be re-deployed.

To protect our finances, we have also agreed to defer any capital projects we're not contractually committed to, with the exception of the office refurbishment project as it is still at an early stage.

Office staff are now preparing for home-working and it is likely the office will be closed from Monday 23 March, although staff and members will still be available by phone or email.