Annex 1 – Cllr Lundgren Report

I’m here to help anyone - especially with issues relating to NKDC and its services, rental properties etc - please contact me 07751 112303

North Kesteven: In these exceptional circumstances its not possible to hold council meetings, planning meetings etc and the council offices are pretty much shut with officers working from home. In order to get the decision making process working again the council is investigating the potential and legality for web based meetings. However much of the officer focus is on addressing the needs of the community whilst we are in lockdown with the council charged with distributing funds coming in from central government for local business etc. The council will be contacting eligible businesses shortly. NK is working with the Lincolnshire Resilience Forum to provide support - especially to those 1.5m identified by the NHS as being very vulnerable. NK is also investigating the possibility of a crisis fund for those in urgent financial need but at this time the fund stands at just £6000.

Potterhanworth. My thanks to everybody involved in setting up the community response and distributing the help phone number and email around the village, especially the volunteers have done a brilliant job addressing the initial problem of supporting those people self isolating in their homes.
The next big problem is going to be people running out of money to buy food. In particular the self employed and those on zero hours are vulnerable if they cant get out to work and earn money. I understand the number waiting for a response from the Universal Credit line exceeded 130,000 on Friday and with the schools closing for holidays the free school meals will stop. There was a local family that had no food last week and fortunately the community was able to rally round to provide enough food for the immediate future. Sadly I think we can expect more people to find themselves in a dire financial position and needing immediate supplies of basic food.
Initial response to the problem could be setting up a village food bank led by volunteers, and also the Coop has a system for purchasing food vouchers if funds are available from local charities etc. I understand the schools are still receiving their free school meals but not all the children are attending school or collecting their free meals which means meals are going to waste. Governors of the school in Branston have agreed to the spare meals going to those identified as being in need.

The next few weeks are going to be difficult but if we can support each other we can cope with most of it.
Keep well and keep healthy
Peter

Cllr Peter Lundgren
Branston Ward
07751112303
cllr_peter_lundgren@n-kesteven.gov.uk

Annex 2 – Cllr Cucksey Report

Annex 3 -

POTTERHANWORTH PARISH COUNCIL
RESOLUTIONS TO BE APPROVED BY EMAIL DUE TO THE PARISH COUNCIL BEING UNABLE TO MEET DUE TO CORONAVIRUS

RESOLTION 1. SAFETY STATEMENT - MEETINGS
That the Parish Council recognises and agrees that no business, meeting, service provision or service delivery of the Authority is of any importance above that of public and personal safety. As such all scheduled public meetings will be cancelled for an initial 4 month period (or as circumstances dictate).
 

RESOLUTION 2. SUSPENSION OF STANDING ORDERS / FINANCIAL REGULATIONS
That the Parish Council gives delegated authority to the Clerk to: suspend any relevant Standing Order or Financial Regulation as necessary to ensure the smooth running and operation (wherever possible) of the Parish Council for a period of no longer than 4 months (or as circumstances dictate), with the Parish Clerk to compile and maintain a list of such suspensions and reasons which will be to be presented to a future meeting of the Administration Committee
 

RESOLUTION 3. ANNUAL COUNCIL MEETING / ANNUAL PARISH MEETING
That as the cancellation of meetings has a direct impact on the Annual Meeting of the Parish Council (scheduled for 11 May 2020), the roles of Chairman and Vice Chairman will remain the same until a suitable and safe public meeting is called and held.
Where any cancellation of meetings has a direct impact on the holding of the Annual Parish Meeting, the Parish Council will hold such meeting at a future date.
It is noted that whilst the above decisions are contrary to existing legislation (as of 25th March 2020) the Parish Council has made these decisions in order to place public safety at the forefront.
 

RESOLUTION 4. ORDERS FOR PAYMENT
That the Clerk emails information regarding all orders for payment to Councillors. Councillors are to confirm that they agree to the payments.
These measures are put in place with robust transparency processes to ensure effective business continuation and to minimise impact on local service delivery and local business with ratification by the Parish Council to be made at the earliest and safest opportunity.