Councils introduce new measures to protect services, councillors, employees and residents

Mid Suffolk and Babergh district councils have announced a range of measures to protect services, communities, councillors and employees over coming weeks.

The moves include cancelling all council meetings for March and April, with the council exploring alternative ways to allow democratic council decisions to continue to be made in the meantime.

In line with Government advice, the councils have instructed all councillors and officers in high risk groups to self-isolate and all officers to work from home if they can, although this obviously is not possible for everyone and precautions are in place around social distancing and hygiene across all our offices and sites.

We are committed to keeping council services running for our communities in the meantime by adopting special business continuity measures across our teams.

This may mean a change in the way the council works – reducing face-to-face services or replacing visits by telephone calls – but it says it is still available to help and support people by phone on 0300 1234000 and via the website.

Employees visiting people’s homes, for example tradespeople carrying out work and essential repairs in council houses, will be following strict social distancing guidelines and hand sanitisation and may ask a few additional questions before entering customers’ homes.

The councils are also exploring ways to support communities and businesses in Babergh and Mid Suffolk over the difficult weeks ahead, in line with the package of new financial measures for individuals and businesses announced by the chancellor.

Mid Suffolk District Council leader Cllr Suzie Morley said: “I’d like to thank everyone in our communities who has already expressed a wish to help others in need.

"A lot of work has already taken place behind the scenes and rest assured, our politicians and officers are going above and beyond to plan how we can help and continue to deliver services over coming weeks.

"The situation is fast moving, but we will continue to work with our health and public sector colleagues to provide a co-ordinated response.”