Coronavirus: Portsmouth council meetings suspended

Portsmouth City Council has postponed all meetings to minimise the spread of the coronavirus as the country has gone into lockdown.

From today (March 24) urgent decisions will be made by chief executive David Williams following consultation with elected councillors.

Council leader, Councillor Gerald Vernon-Jackson, said: 'These are exceptional times and we need to be able to keep things moving as best we can for our city.

'We are providing services to many of the most vulnerable residents as well as supporting other agencies, such as the NHS.

'The chief executive has consulted with all councillors on the way forward, and I believe has their full support.

'Hopefully the government will bring forward new regulations as a matter of urgency that will allow councillors to take decisions without the requirement for public access.

'We urge everyone to follow the latest government advice and only leave their home for the specific purposes advised by the government.'

Deputy leader Cllr Steve Pitt added: 'Staying home is the most important thing people can do.'

Meetings that were planned for this week which have since been cancelled include housing in which a £5.1m development for 24 adults with disabilities was due to be decided and an education meeting to consider the merger of Wimborne Infant and Junior Schools.

Non-urgent items such as information reports will be heard at public meetings at a future date.