A STIRRING tribute has been paid to key workers, NHS staff, Blue Light services and volunteers by Redditch Borough Council.
A cross-party motion put forward by council Leader Councillor Matt Dormer (Con, West) and seconded by Coun Bill Hartnett (Lab, Church Hill) leader of the Labour group, put on record the authority’s thanks to all who were and still are working to tackle the Covid-19 pandemic.
It read: ‘In responding to the crisis, Council records its sincere thanks to the NHS, our Council’s officers, emergency service workers, supermarket staff, community groups and the countless volunteers across Redditch who have provided relief and aid to our valued communities.
‘Council also acknowledges the work of the Council’s frontline staff, colleagues and volunteers’.
In seconding the motion Coun Hartnett reminded members – all joining in via a webcast – that he and Coun Dormer had intended to do this at the start of the pandemic but that lockdown had put an end to council meetings, and this was their first opportunity to do so.
He said: “This notice of motion is this council’s opportunity on behalf of all the residents and businesses of the borough to thank all those that helped, kept working, carried out acts of kindness, and did good deeds.”
He also praised the town’s existing community groups and the new groups that had sprung up in response to coronavirus.
Councillors lined up to endorse the motion with Coun Joanne Beecham (Con, Headless Cross and Oakenshaw) paying a heartfelt tribute to West Midlands Ambulance Service for their care of her mother.
Coun Mike Rouse (Con, Church Hill) also praised the people of Redditch for their forbearance and general adherence to the lockdown rules noting that, in comparison to many other places, the incidence of Covid-19 in the borough was very low.
