Agenda item

7.39pm – Councillor Ben Coleman moved, seconded by Councillor Patricia Quigley, the special motion in their names.

“This Council:

Expects swift, clear government action to deal with the coronavirus pandemic and its consequences, and recognises that anything less costs lives, damages the economy, causes business failures and unemployment, and threatens the NHS.

Agrees that in managing any epidemic or pandemic, the government must act upon the best scientific advice that not only explains what has happened but predicts what is likely to happen.

Notes that at a meeting on 13 December, London’s council leaders heard from Public Health England that since early December the pandemic had been growing exponentially in London's population and that unless immediate lockdown action was taken the virus could grow out of control within days.

Notes that all London’s council leaders called at that meeting for tough measures to be introduced immediately to control the virus by effectively “cancelling Christmas”.

Regrets that the government resisted that call for five crucial days, leaving tens of thousands of asymptomatic but infected people to travel freely about the country and spread the infection.

Recognises that from the earliest days of the pandemic the Prime Minister and his government have frequently failed to act on the best scientific advice. Instead, they have dithered and prevaricated, too often focused on the politics above all else, and on too many occasions have acted too late and done too little. The Council calls on the government to urgently change its approach.

Notes that on 20 December, Health Secretary Matt Hancock admitted the virus was now “out of control”.

Notes that at a meeting on 31 December, ministers, London council leaders and chief executives were told by a government public health expert that every class in every London school was estimated to contain at least one infected student.

Notes that the virus is largely being spread by people who are asymptomatic and that the consequences of this new peak in infection are likely to continue to 21 March at the earliest.

Recognises that the only solution now available to the government is a full lockdown.

Advises residents to do the following:

·       Stay home. To stop the spread of the virus and cut the length of time a lockdown is needed, which will save lives, protect our NHS and save businesses and job

·       Get tested. The more we know about who has the disease and how they got it, the better we can fight it. Hammersmith & Fulham has capacity to test 74,000 local residents over the next six weeks and urges residents to book via www.lbhf.gov.uk/gettested for a test at one of our three locations

·       Get the vaccine. This is being rolled out to priority groups but the sooner everyone is vaccinated, the sooner life will begin to get better. People should get it as soon as they are offered it.

·       When out exercising: always wear a mask, practice strict social distancing and sanitation. This means keeping a car’s length away from other people and always sanitise when you’ve touched surfaces outside home.”

Speeches on the special motion were made by Councillors Ben Coleman, Patricia Quigley, Larry Culhane, and Lisa Homan (for the Administration) – and Councillor Andrew Brown (for the Opposition).

Councillor Ben Coleman made a speech summing up the debate before the special motion was put to the vote:

FOR                        34

AGAINST                0

NOT VOTING:        10

The motion was declared CARRIED.

8.11pm – RESOLVED

This Council:

Expects swift, clear government action to deal with the coronavirus pandemic and its consequences, and recognises that anything less costs lives, damages the economy, causes business failures and unemployment, and threatens the NHS.

Agrees that in managing any epidemic or pandemic, the government must act upon the best scientific advice that not only explains what has happened but predicts what is likely to happen.

Notes that at a meeting on 13 December, London’s council leaders heard from Public Health England that since early December the pandemic had been growing exponentially in London's population and that unless immediate lockdown action was taken the virus could grow out of control within days.

Notes that all London’s council leaders called at that meeting for tough measures to be introduced immediately to control the virus by effectively “cancelling Christmas”.

Regrets that the government resisted that call for five crucial days, leaving tens of thousands of asymptomatic but infected people to travel freely about the country and spread the infection.

Recognises that from the earliest days of the pandemic the Prime Minister and his government have frequently failed to act on the best scientific advice. Instead, they have dithered and prevaricated, too often focused on the politics above all else, and on too many occasions have acted too late and done too little. The Council calls on the government to urgently change its approach.

Notes that on 20 December, Health Secretary Matt Hancock admitted the virus was now “out of control”.

Notes that at a meeting on 31 December, ministers, London council leaders and chief executives were told by a government public health expert that every class in every London school was estimated to contain at least one infected student.

Notes that the virus is largely being spread by people who are asymptomatic and that the consequences of this new peak in infection are likely to continue to 21 March at the earliest.

Recognises that the only solution now available to the government is a full lockdown.

Advises residents to do the following:

·       Stay home. To stop the spread of the virus and cut the length of time a lockdown is needed, which will save lives, protect our NHS and save businesses and job

·       Get tested. The more we know about who has the disease and how they got it, the better we can fight it. Hammersmith & Fulham has capacity to test 74,000 local residents over the next six weeks and urges residents to book via www.lbhf.gov.uk/gettested for a test at one of our three locations

·       Get the vaccine. This is being rolled out to priority groups but the sooner everyone is vaccinated, the sooner life will begin to get better. People should get it as soon as they are offered it.

·       When out exercising: always wear a mask, practice strict social distancing and sanitation. This means keeping a car’s length away from other people and always sanitise when you’ve touched surfaces outside home.