Saxtead Parish Council's first online meeting went well.

County Councillor Stephen Burroughes and Ward Councillor Maurice Cook were in attendance and provided written reports and some extra verbal updates. 

Cllr Burroughes reported that Suffolk County Council has provided 219 care organisations with 660,000 items of PPE to help during this pandemic. Fire & Rescue staff have been redeployed distributing food to people who are shielding. Waste recycling centres are now re-opening using online booking systems to limit numbers. Daily updates from Public Health England are provided by SCC & Cllr. Burroughes reminded that Home But NotAlone and Tribe were both local points of contact for people needing help or wanting to offer help.

Cllr. Cook reported that the District Council has started to use remote meetings and that these are going well. He thanked local communities for their continued assistance during these difficult times, which helps to ease the strain on the District Council. He reported that green waste collections will resume from 25^th May, with some schedules changing to allow a limit of only two people on the collection lorries.

Cllr. Cook reported that all Ward Councillors have donated money from their budgets to a Covid-19 Hardship Fund and this has totaled £60,000 so far. He reiterated that his biggest priority at present is helping local businesses. ESC has paid out £53 million so far, which is 75% of businesses eligible for the grants. ESC are contacting the remaining businesses urging them to apply. Cllr. Cook then gave details of a new discretionary fund of £3.7milion to help those working from home or who do not pay business rates. This will be advertised on ESC’s website and social media accounts, and grants of £10,000 and £25,000 are available, as well as grants below £10,000 for microbusinesses at the panel’s discretion. 

Cllr. Cook commented that during the pandemic, the verges have not been cut as much and he has received positive comments in this regard from constituents. He will be writing to parishes asking for their views on Highways only cutting 1 metre verges and verges near junctions in the future to allow for more wildflower growth and reduce costs.

 The financial paperwork and accounting statements can be found here.