Wakefield Council meeting cancelled in response to coronavirus

Wakefield's monthly full council meeting has been cancelled because of the coronavirus outbreak.
Wakefield County Hall, where full council meetings are held every month.Wakefield County Hall, where full council meetings are held every month.
Wakefield County Hall, where full council meetings are held every month.

Council leader Denise Jeffery tweeted that people's health was "paramount" after the decision was taken on Friday.

The meeting was due to take place on Wednesday afternoon, with most of the district's 62 serving councillors expected to attend.

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But with a potential ban on large public gatherings looming, Wakefield Council decided to call off the meeting in advance.

Coun Jeffery said people's wellbeing was "paramount".Coun Jeffery said people's wellbeing was "paramount".
Coun Jeffery said people's wellbeing was "paramount".

Gillian Marshall, Wakefield Council’s chief legal officer, said: "Taking into consideration the fast changing situation with the coronavirus and the fact that there were no urgent items scheduled for next week, we have decided to cancel the full council meeting on March 18."

Smaller public meetings being run by the council are still scheduled to go ahead this week, including a scrutiny committee which took place on Monday morning.

Writing on Twitter on Saturday evening, Councillor Jeffery said: "Council meeting cancelled next week along with many events! Health and taking care of each other is paramount!"

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The council's sole Liberal Democrat member, Coun Tom Gordon, said he wanted the local authority try to facilitate "virtual" meetings with the help of technology, during the COVID-19 outbreak.

In a letter to Coun Jeffery on Friday, Coun Gordon wrote: "I understand the rationale behind the cancellation of the next full council meeting, which had

been scheduled for Wednesday March 18.

"However, it is imperative that throughout this crisis that we can still collectively fulfil our democratic duties and roles as elected members."

Local Democracy Reporting Service