Mid Ulster council holding coronavirus meeting

Mid Ulster District Council is to hold an emergency meeting tonight (Monday) behind closed doors.
An Emergency Department Nurse during a demonstration of the Coronavirus pod and COVID-19 virus testing procedures set-up beside the Emergency Department of Antrim Area Hospital, Co Antrim in Northern IrelandAn Emergency Department Nurse during a demonstration of the Coronavirus pod and COVID-19 virus testing procedures set-up beside the Emergency Department of Antrim Area Hospital, Co Antrim in Northern Ireland
An Emergency Department Nurse during a demonstration of the Coronavirus pod and COVID-19 virus testing procedures set-up beside the Emergency Department of Antrim Area Hospital, Co Antrim in Northern Ireland

It is understood the briefing meeting, which does not appear on the Council’s website, is set to take place in the council’s Magherafelt office at 7pm.

During the course of the meeting councillors will be given a chance to discuss their concerns about the COVID-19 pandemic.

When requesting access to the meeting, a spokesperson for Mid-Ulster District Council denied entry to the Local Democracy Reporting Service.

“In respect of this evening, as this is a briefing for Councillors, as opposed to a meeting of the Council or its Committees, it is not open to the public,” said the Council spokesperson.

“This is normal practice. Standing Orders only apply to Council and Committee meetings.”

A request for comment from the Council’s Chief Executive asking why the meeting is behind closed doors, who requested the meeting and who made the decision to keep it confidential, went unanswered.

However, speaking to the Local Democracy Reporting Service ahead of tonight’s meeting, councillors expressed their surprise at its secretive nature

“The impact of this virus will be massive across our economy and it is vital we get a clear message out to the public,” said one councillor.

“Keeping the press out of these meetings doesn’t help that and I’m not sure that is the best decision. We need to be working closely with you guys to get a clear and coherent message out at time like this.”

Meanwhile, another councillor suggested that decisions will already have been made prior to the meeting.

“I suspect that the decisions will be made today and I think some of them will even be taken during the course of today (Monday),” said the Councillor.

“Councillors are talking amongst themselves and different Council officers have been in contact over the weekend, so I would imagine these plans are already in place.”

A special meeting of the full Council will take place on Thursday at 7pm.

Adam Morton , Local Democracy Reporting Service