Government Accused Of Not Keeping Councillors Safe, By Making Them Meet In-Person

A Harborough councillor has accused the government of ‘betraying’ elected members, by making them meet in-person again during the pandemic.

Councils nationwide were told to re-start normal meetings last month, after being allowed to hold them ‘virtually’ on-line since last year.

Temporary coronavirus legislation, allowing remote meetings, lapsed on May 6th and the government has up til now rejected pleas for it to be extended, on the grounds that there is not enough space in the legislative timetable.

Cllr Paul Bremner, the Conservative member for the Lubenham ward, says meeting in-person risks safety, at a time Covid-19 cases are rising.

Harborough District Council is using its Council Chamber at the Symington Building for meetings, with Covid safety measures, including the use of screens, and social distancing.

However, national protocol is for councillors to remove masks when speaking.

Conservative Paul Bremner, who represents the Lubenham ward, spoke out a recent meeting, when he was told to remove his mask:

Cllr Bremner then spoke to Hfm after the meeting:

Cllr Paul Bremner