Concerns raised over Ixworth Parish Council's 'belligerent' approach to Covid safety at meetings

A parish councillor’s partner, who is clinically extremely vulnerable, has expressed his frustration over ‘inadequate’ coronavirus safety protocols at the authority’s monthly meetings.

Warren Lakin, 67, whose partner Debra Reay is an Ixworth parish councillor, suffers from pulmonary sarcoidosis, which causes inflammatory cells to clump together in various parts of the body, including the lungs.

Ms Reay, 63, first raised concerns with the council before Christmas, at the height of the Omicron variant wave, about its decision to use a room with no ventilation and where it is hard to socially distance.

But despite her asking if a different room could be used because she was fearful of spreading the virus to Mr Lakin and others, she claimed council bosses said they could not change where meetings were held.

Ben Birrell, chair of Ixworth and Ixworth Thorpe Parish Council, said the authority had complied with all legal requirements surrounding its meetings during the Covid-19 pandemic.

But Mr Lakin has expressed his frustration at the parish council’s ‘belligerent’ approach which he said was putting other councillors and members of the public in danger and isolating his partner from meetings.

He said: “The parish council is walking a fine line where their actions are verging on undemocratic in effect, by refusing to consider using that (other) venue,” adding: “My partner is excluded from the meeting.”

Ms Reay echoed her partner’s thoughts and said her concerns were at their highest in December.

“I was getting increasingly concerned about the risk that I might put Warren (in) by attending those meetings,” she said. “I asked the council to move to another room which they refused to do.”

She added: “I have asked the chair, I have asked the clerk how can we move through this and I have been blanked.”

In response, Mr Birrell said: “Ixworth and Ixworth Thorpe Parish Council has complied with all legal requirements surrounding its meetings throughout the Covid-19 pandemic. Since May 2021, in accordance with Government legislation, council meetings can only be held in person.

“In preparation for a return to in-person meetings, a risk assessment was carried out by a qualified and competent Chartered Safety and Health Practitioner which continues to remain valid.”

He added: “In continuing to balance the Covid-19 guidelines, and legal requirements in the way the council conducts its business, the parish council has considered changing venue and the type of room that is used for meetings.

“It is unfortunate there are no other suitable venues that are legally compliant for council meetings to be operated at within the village. We are already aware that the Village Hall has other bookings which means we have no alternative beyond our current arrangements.

“We also have other councillors and staff with exposure to clinical vulnerabilities which were all taken into account in the risk assessment undertaken.

"In light of the announcement made by the Government on Monday 21st February 2022, if such a risk assessment were to be re-evaluated, it is likely the vast majority of measures within what we’re currently working with would be withdrawn.”