The Council wishes to share the arrangements for the continuity of Town Council business during the Covid-19 pandemic with residents.

The scheme of delegation allows for the Clerk in an emergency to carry out any function of the Council. The Clerk will be in regular contact with the Chair and Vice-Chair of the council in order to ensure the Council fulfils its statutory obligations and maintains financial stability. While many of the Council’s functions are not mandatory, it has an important role to play in the community and is obliged to work closely with Bradford Metropolitan District Council and voluntary and community organisations in the district.

The Town Council is committed to keeping its employees, volunteers, service users and the general public safe. To this end, the office at Cottingley Community Centre will close to the public and staff will work remotely. Contact details will remain the same and the usual time scale for responses will be maintained.

Bingley Town Council will share official Covid-19 information from Gov.uk and Public Health England via its website and Facebook page. Bradford Metropolitan District Council are setting up five support ‘hubs’ one in each constituency with an area response team in place. These will provide advice, information and support for volunteer groups, community initiatives and individuals. Regular updates from the hub will be posted by Bingley Town Council.

All meetings of the Council’s committees and subcommittees will be suspended until further notice. Statutory meetings e.g. the Annual Town Meeting and Annual Meeting of the Council will take place according to Government legislation current at that time.

Allotments will remain open. The monthly Saturday markets are cancelled until further notice. Bradford Metropolitan District markets in Bingley, i.e.Friday – fruit and veg, fish; Saturday – cheese, flowers, are continuing for the moment, but this may change.  Installation of hanging baskets and planters will proceed as contracted, unless rules and circumstances change. Summer events which the town council would usually support or been present at which have been cancelled or postponed are: the Great British Spring Clean, Community Litter Picks, V.E Day Festival, Canal Festival, Walkers are Welcome Walking Festival.

Please follow the advice given and published on this websiteand elsewhere to keep you and your family in good health and to support the NHS.  Look out for your neighbours if you can and help our community to stay strong and cohesive to withstand this crisis.