Bude Stratton Town Council (BSTC) have been following the latest Government guidance at all times on the outbreak while also doing their upmost to support the local community through this difficult time, below outlines their response and latest news.

Services

They have suspended all but the most essential services, taking that action just ahead of the Government lockdown announcement. For the safety of the community and staff, they are supporting the ‘stay at home’ policy as far as is practicable.

The Library followed The Parkhouse and The Castle in being fully closed. The Facilities Team have been cut back to essential duties and building safety/security duties. The public toilets have also been closed to deter visitors to the Town.

Office based staff are working from home with the occasional single person visiting the office for certain tasks.

Governance

With council meetings currently suspended, BSTC town clerk, Keith Cornwell is acting under delegated powers. Firstly, with consultation of the BSTC Emergency Action Team (BEAT) — comprising Mayor Bob Willingham and Councillors Peter Moores, Peter La Broy and Tony Gibbs — with whom regular online meetings are held.

Emergency legislation has now been passed and came into force on Saturday, April 4 2020 that allows councils to hold virtual meetings online. In the coming weeks the Town Council will be looking to hold some committee meetings remotely via online virtual platforms, this will also allow the public to ‘sign in’ and participate in the public consultation section of committee meetings as normal. Details of such will be announced in due course.

The new regulations also remove the requirement for ‘The Annual Council Meeting’ in May and for the existing governance to remain in place until the next Annual Council Meeting either in May 2021, or at a rescheduled Annual Council Meeting, whichever is sooner. This means that the current committee chairs, vice chairs, mayor and deputy mayor will continue in office until the annual meeting takes place.

COVID-19 communications and actions

Since the outbreak of COVID-19, BSTC has been working hard to keep the community supported and up to date with

the latest advice, information and practical support.

They have supported Bude Foodbank with a £5,000 emergency payment to support the increase in demand during

this crisis, as well as the Facilities team supporting movement of donated produce and stock between Morrison’s

and the foodbank.

They have established their own BSTC Covid-19 Response Facebook page to provide local and national Government

advice as well as practical support and information to the community. As well as this, the communications officer

has been supporting the community group ‘Bude and surrounding areas Quarantine Support Group’ on Facebook.

With the day to day running of the group, support for the volunteers and providing practical information to the

community.

A leaflet produced by the community and supported by BSTC has been distributed throughout the EX23 community

offering support to those isolating, this also offers a telephone support line using a BSTC number and staffed by BSTC

staff, ensuring those without internet access can access the support required at this critical time.

The town Council will continue to monitor the support required in the community and do their upmost to offer advice and practical

support wherever they can.

The telephone support line: 01288 353576 Monday to Friday, 10am to 4pm

.

There is also a map of local volunteers at www.neetmaps.co.uk/budehelpers

This information can also be found on BSTC website www.bude-stratton.gov.uk with links to the pre-mentioned

Facebook pages.