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Coronavirus: Rutland County Council continues to operate under emergency powers




The chief executive of Rutland County Council continues to have full control over the authority during the current Covid-19 crisis.

Decisions made by Helen Briggs and other senior officers under emergency powers are said to have been recorded in a ‘decision making log’.

Members of the public were told during a cabinet meeting on Tuesday (April 21) that the document is currently confidential.

Helen Briggs, chief executive of Rutland County Council
Helen Briggs, chief executive of Rutland County Council

But they have also been assured that the decisions will be transparent and scrutinised properly once the crisis is over.

Under national legislation, emergency powers allow a council’s executive team to take any urgent action necessary to protect the public and fund any measures that might be needed.

Normally, big decisions are made by elected councillors at meetings of the full council following advice and guidance from the executive team.

The situation was made clear during a virtual meeting of Rutland County Council’s cabinet, which was held over conference call website Zoom and was fully accessible to the public.

Rutland County Council
Rutland County Council

It was also stressed in meeting documents that members are maintaining “democratic oversight” and are being briefed “almost daily on events and the decisions that have been made that day”.

There has been a weekly virtual briefing for all councillors, including a question and answer session, to keep them up to speed and best able to perform their roles.

Councillors are also receiving a twice-weekly email update and copies of all press releases.

The report, which was noted by the cabinet, states: “The emergency response remains in full effect and the situation is expected to become more challenging in the near future.”

Mrs Briggs was due to retire in August after 13 years at the helm but postponed this due to the coronavirus crisis.

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