Council leader thanks frontline staff at remote cabinet meeting

At a virtual meeting, councillors expressed their gratitude to the council team, teachers, members of the public, emergency service staff and other key workers.

Coun Sir Stephen Houghton, council leader, acknowledged the difficulties facing key workers during the pandemic, and praised the council's response.

He said: "In March, we declared an emergency situation, as local authorities have done across the country, in response to the spread of coronavirus.

“The council has had to adapt itself significantly in order to meet that health threat, and the challenges it provides.

“I'm pleased to say our staff, senior officers and members have stepped up to the plate to be able to respond to coronavirus.

“It has not been easy, and it has meant significant change to the way we operate in terms of our decision making and how we deliver our services to the public.

“I do want to thank all our staff and officers for the way they've adapted to this. I know we have had co-operation by and large by the public in recognising things have had to change as a consequence.

“People have gone over and above what you would expect, particularly when we've had to deal with people who have been in contact with the virus.

“We all know there have been a significant number of infections in Barnsley and sadly a large number of people have passed away as a consequence, so for all those working in the social care sector, as well as all our staff, thank you for the work you are doing in and a very difficult situation, and our thanks to the wider NHS and emergency services, who are doing the same.

“In terms of our general services, we have managed to keep most of the bin collections running, we haven't been able to keep green waste running because of a lack of staff, and as soon as we can get staffing levels back up we will look to reinstate that service.

“Household recycling sites are closed at the moment for good reason - there were major staffing problems, incidents at sites and traffic management problems, but we are working to see if we can reopen those at some point in the future.

“I do want to thank our children's services department and schools for the work they've done to try and keep homeschooling going, and allow children from vulnerable families and from key workers to continue to attend school where possible.

“Nonetheless this continues to be a real challenge and I want to thank the finance team for keeping our heads above water on this, keeping the money flowing where it needs to go and keeping a watchful eye on the future.”

“People in Barnsley are pulling together community groups, the council, other agencies to get through this.”