In order for this to be made possible, we are acquiring data held by a range of public sector organisations which identifies those individuals designated as being high risk and entering into a government-led supply chain to secure access to the goods necessary to make up parcels of food and other items. It’s an enormous logistical task and a huge amount of ground has been covered since we were allocated the task earlier in the week.

It has been fantastic to see how local community, charity and religious organisations have all stepped up to help support their fellow residents, and we are asking that these groups and individuals continue to play this vital role by signing-up to the council’s supply network. Where groups do not currently exist we will be looking for volunteers to help council workers to ensure that provision is in place and the Government will be beginning a nation-wide recruitment drive in the next few days.

Our network is set to go live next week and we will be providing more details closer to the time, but for now please do email me – Peter.Lamb@crawley.gov.uk – if you would like to offer your support or if you fall into a category of needing support and I will ensure it makes it onto our databases. You can also access a range of advice in relation to Covid-19 by visiting the council’s website, including signing up to council coronavirus updates.

The council itself is now on an emergency footing. We are in the process of closing all council facilities, with the exception of the Town Hall (although we would encourage people to visit only in the event of an emergency), and all council officers are being re-tasked to focus solely on essential services and crisis response.

I know that many people are suffering severe financial hardship as a result of this crisis and we are looking into what support can be offered locally. Could I encourage everyone effected to see if they are entitled to any government support. If you qualify, it is really important that you register for Universal Credit as soon as possible, as other forms of support can often only be accessed if you do register and it could take a long time before you receive the first payment.

I have written to our local MP to ask that he lobby government to introduce legal restrictions to prevent stockpiling in order to back up their efforts and to provide the military presence required to ensure that those restrictions are followed. In the meantime, we are looking to use the council’s own Civil Enforcement Officers to help maintain order.

Lastly, for the duration of this crisis I intend to make myself available for weekly question and answer sessions online, to ensure residents are kept informed and to ensure that local democracy continues throughout the crisis. Details will follow in due course.

Cllr Peter Lamb
Leader, Crawley Borough Council