67 BC/20/28 ANNOUNCEMENTS FROM THE CHAIRMAN AND LEADER PDF 17 KB
In addition to any announcements made at the meeting, please see Paper BC/20/28 attached, detailing events attended by the Chairman and Vice-Chairman.
Minutes:
67.1 The Chair announced that the High Sheriff Justice Event listed in her report had not gone ahead and therefore should be removed from the events.
67.2 The Chair invited Councillor Ward to introduce his report.
67.3 Councillor Ward introduced his report and informed Council that on this national day of reflection we had stood united in remembering those who had lost their lives as a result of Covid. Councillor Ward added that thoughts were with those who had lost love ones and had seen their lives impacted in ways they could not have imagined a year ago. Councillor Ward paid tribute to the Council’s teams, public sector colleagues and the army of volunteers who had kept essential services running and supported communities in the face of unprecedented challenges. The roll-out of the vaccine and availability of community testing brought hope for the year ahead as long as everybody followed the guidelines.
67.4 In the meantime the Council would continue to support the recovery of our towns and businesses so that Babergh continued to be somewhere people were proud to call home, post-Covid and beyond.
67.5 Councillor Ward reported that the latest data reflected a continuing decline in the infection rate to levels not seen since late Summer, in Babergh this was now down to 19.6 per 100,000 – the lowest in the county and a long way from the nearly 640 per 100,000 that was seen in early January. There was, however, a slight rise in parts of the county following the reopening of schools and a significant increase in testing. There was further good news in that the death rate was now not above the seasonal average.
67.6 The vaccination roll-out in Suffolk was still going very well – one of the best in England – and in Babergh almost everyone over 50 had now had their first vaccination. Many had now had both doses and this would be the focus of the vaccination programme next month. Councillor Ward hoped that any short-term reduction in supply wouldn’t delay the removal of lockdown restrictions and that everyone could have a good Summer.
iESE
67.7 Councillor Ward announced that Babergh and Mid Suffolk have been shortlisted in three categories of this year’s iESE Public Sector Transformation Awards, including Council of the Year. This was really exciting news and a testament to the innovation that was at the heart of everything the Council does also to the excellence of the staff. It was a welcome counterweight to the disinformation peddled on social media. Councillor Ward urged Councillors to watch the videos.
Belle Vue
67.8 Councillor Ward stated that he wanted to address the continuing rancour over the future of the Belle Vue site. The chosen way forward was not liked by some but it was gratifying that this was balanced by others who understood that something needed to be done and that a pragmatic solution had been found that stood a chance of being implemented.
67.9 Councillor Ward added that there ... view the full minutes text for item 67