Coronavirus in Peterborough: Fire service puts plans in place as council finance chief delays decision to quit

The fire service, which covers Peterborough and Cambridgeshire, said over the coming weeks it will look at how it provides its service while minimising the risk to residents and staff.

Chief fire officer Chris Strickland said: “We want to assure residents that we are taking the current coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic very seriously.

“We have been working closely with our local authority partners for the last few weeks and are continually monitoring the latest government advice. Staff are exercising good hygiene with washing and sanitising hands at locations across the county.

“We will continue to do this to ensure we are able to offer the highest level of service and to respond to emergencies as quickly as possible.

“Over the coming weeks and months we will continue look at how we provide our service to the public to ensure we minimise the risk to the public and our staff, while taking a proportionate response to the latest emerging information about the coronavirus.”

Meanwhile, the announcement by the Government that it will push the local elections back 23 months has prompted the man in charge of the finances at Peterborough City Council to delay his departure from the authority.

Cllr David Seaton, the cabinet member for finance, was not planning to seek re-election in May, but with voting now not taking place he will automatically carry on as a councillor.

The Conservative member for Hampton Vale told the Peterborough Telegraph: “I believe the right thing to do in the current circumstances is to continue. We need to work together as a community to support people as they need.

“However, I think it is still very early (both re government guidance on how local authorities operate and the virus impact) to give an absolutely definitive 12 month view.”

Council leader Cllr John Holdich was also not planning to seek re-election in May. He told the PT he has yet to decide whether to carry on.

Twenty-two seats at the council were due to be contested on May 7, as well as parish council elections.

Voting was also meant to take place for the new police and crime commissioner in the county, however, the decision to defer the vote has added complications.

According to polling site Britain Elects, emergency legislation will be needed to prevent the election taking place.

This is because former commissioner Jason Ablewhite resigned from the role less than six months before polling day, meaning an interim - Ray Bisby - was appointed rather than a by-election being called.

But a postponement of the vote means the six month rule no longer applies, so emergency legislation being drawn up by the Government could be needed to prevent an election (by law) having to be called.

The Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner told the PT on Friday that it was seeking guidance from the Home Office.

Mr Ablewhite quit after he was referred to the Independent Office for Police Conduct after a complaint was made to Cambridgeshire police about messages he had sent on social media.

He has not been arrested or charged with any offence.

Mr Bisby was his deputy before taking on the role as acting police and crime commissioner. He is a Conservative city councillor in Peterborough representing Stanground South.

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