Highland councillors hold virtual meeting for updates on council coronavirus response
Inverness councillors have held a virtual meeting as they observe social distancing measures during the coronanvirus crisis.
Through a live link in an empty Highland Council chamber councillors received a report on the national emergency declared to combat coronavirus, similar to the daily briefings given by First Minister Nicola Sturgeon and the UK government.
Inverness South councillor Duncan Macpherson said the format of the meeting was strange, but necessary.
He said: "It’s reassuring to know that so much work is being undertaken by Highland Council officers and staff and the local authority’s many partner agencies, to help to slow down and combat the local spread of the coronavirus.
"Members were grateful for the welfare funds being rolled out by the UK Treasury to help our hard-pressed families and individuals, with business grants and financial assistance to help businesses, small, medium and large, and the self-employed.
"Members were told about emergency legislation, the hundreds of local volunteers, growing daily, who have freely offered their assistance and skills, local community hubs, assistance centres, frontline services and the co-ordination of contingency planning, all with the prime objective of supporting key workers, the NHS, third sector voluntary groups, vulnerable individuals, senior citizens, families and businesses."
Cllr Macpherson said much of the preparation work of the emergency services and the local supply chain networks for food, medicine and essential supplies were now in place.
He continued: "It was gratifying to hear of all the hard working staff from the Highland Council continuing to provide essential services, our dedicated teachers and school staff, the Eden Court staff and those from the charity High Life Highland, who have been assisting Highland citizens in so many ways.
"Several staff have been deployed to answering the new dedicated helplines to overcome this current health crisis and to assist Highland constituents with the government’s countrywide safety measures and its health and welfare roll-out."
