Covid-19 worries ahead of first in-person Joint Community Councils of Moray meeting since pandemic began
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THE Joint Community Councils of Moray (JCC) will hold its first face-to-face meeting since the beginning of the Covid-19 pandemic tonight.
Members will be joined by Moray area commander for Police Scotland Chief Inspector Norman Stevenson in the supper room at Elgin Town Hall.
It will be the first time community councillors have gathered together following elections in September.
However, fears have been raised over holding the in-person meeting following the recent rise in Covid numbers, and that there is no virtual option for those who would like to participate online.
There were 383 new cases recorded between November 4 and 10, up 66 on the previous figure.
Chairwoman of Speyside Community Council Marion Ross said: "I do have concerns about a large number of folk meeting.
"I'm not going and three other members of Speyside Community Council are not going.
"A number of people asked if there was the possibility of a Zoom option so folk could take part remotely, but apparently it's not possible to have that at the town hall.
"I accept it's my decision not to go and I am disappointed because I want to take part."
Alastair Kennedy, former chairman of the joint community councils, is confident that all appropriate measures have been taken to ensure the meeting is as safe as possible.
He said: "The town hall committee has done a risk assessment and proper practices are in place.
"If anyone needs to use the lift it will be cleaned afterwards. There will be masks available at the door and there will be sanitiser too.
"It was always planned for this meeting to be held in person, and maybe if we'd had more notice we might have been able to have a virtual option as well.
"I understand some people will be concerned but we've been hiding away for a long time.
"Online meetings are all very well but we need that real interaction. It's what community councillors want and enjoy.”
The meeting will begin at 7pm tonight.
