Parish councillors in Saltford are drawing up plans to keep the cogs of local government turning if they are unable to meet in public because of the coronavirus pandemic.

Under normal circumstances, decisions must be made by councillors at meetings that are open to residents and the press.

Clerk Lottie Smith-Collins said no one had expected that meetings would need to be cancelled but Saltford Parish Council is planning for the worst.

It has drafted a “high consequence infectious disease policy” that could be adopted and activated at an extraordinary meeting on March 20th.

“Any parish council has continuity plans, just like any business,” said Ms Smith-Collins. “This is quite a specific situation. We didn’t have one for a pandemic.

“No one expected that meetings would be cancelled.

“We’re looking at what we will do during an infection. We want to keep people safe and are following Public Health England guidelines.

“We need to consider how we will continue our business.

“Every council is going to be looking at this. It’s a natural response to the current situation.

“We’re very positive we will be able to maintain parish council functioning.”

The high consequence infectious disease policy will activate if there is an imminent threat of infection in Saltford and councillors call for it, or if Government suspends all public meetings.

Members will consider activating it at the extraordinary meeting.

The draft policy says: “Due to the nature of local government and considering the councillors and members of public whom attend meetings, there is high percentage of attendees whom would be considered “high risk”.

“As such, to protect the health of all attendees, public meetings are suspended during the active period of this policy.”

The draft policy says that instead of considering a planning application as a committee, two councillors will look at it and share that with all members for comment before the decision is sent to Bath and North East Somerset Council.

Where there is a tight deadline that cannot be delayed, Ms Smith-Collins will be allowed to make decisions in certain cases.

She will circulate communications from third parties that would normally be presented at meetings.

The National Association of Local Councils has shared advice and said parish councils could play a big role during the pandemic by keeping an eye on vulnerable people and encouraging new volunteers to come forward to help.

Stephen Sumner, LDRS