A group to scrutinise the impact of the coronavirus pandemic on Allerdale Council looks set to be formed.

The council’s overview and scrutiny committee is set to meet virtually tomorrow afternoon to consider forming a new task and finish group which would be responsible for looking at the impact COVID-19 has had on the council’s services and operations.

The councillors involved would then report their findings back to the committee.

A report from Ian Hinde, the council’s policy officer for scrutiny and partnerships, recommended the group be formed because it would allow a level of detail and time to be dedicated to the topic which committee meetings alone could not achieve.

It added: "When the pandemic took hold in the UK resulting with the Government in March ordering people to stay at home where possible, the majority of council officers began working from home and the usual delivery of services was temporarily disrupted with many services now being delivered through alternative arrangements, including committee meetings such as the meeting today.

"Learning from experience and the responses to other recent catastrophic events, the authorities in the area were quickly able to instigate meetings of the resilience fora created to operate in such circumstances.

"Other scrutiny bodies will be looking at these overall responses.

"This proposed group is intended to look at this council’s operations, including delivery of services, overall operational situation, health and safety of staff including home working conditions and access to office bases, and plans to resume or reshape services and facilities for the future.

"The Test and Trace aspect could constitute a distinct element of the process which will take a broader look at the overall scheme as well as the council’s role in solutions both current and future."

The report said Councillors Michael Heaslip, Carni McCarron-Holmes, Paul Scott and Elaine Lynch had already indicated they were interested in taking part in the group.

If the committee agrees with the recommendation to form the group, members and a chair will be appointed.