THE leader of the council has defended the decision to cancel an important council meeting - accusing the Tories of failing to prioritise public health.

Phelim Mac Cafferty said it was right to cancel today's planned in-person full council meeting, amid criticism from the Conservatives.

He said council was "taking the advice of public health experts seriously, so we can support our community through this crisis".

It comes after the Tories described the decision as an "affront to democracy".

Cllr Mac Cafferty said: "It is a shame, but perhaps not surprising, that Conservative councillors do not agree that we have to do everything possible to reduce onward transmission, protect our NHS and reduce the chances of Covid-19 spreading even further in our city.

"Cases of Covid-19 are now at the highest point since January 2021 while Omicron is doubling every two days.

"It's ironic that the Conservatives have branded a public health decision 'cowardly' when in spite of the warnings, it is Conservatives who have ignored the risks, failed to plan ahead to keep us avoided taking precautions and insisted on putting public health at risk."

He said that, as legislation was revoked that allowed council meetings to take place online, many council have opted to cancel meetings altogether.

An email sent to councillors earlier today said that the decision to cancel today's meeting came following advice from the chief medical officer for England regarding infection rates and the need to take extra precautions, as well as advice from the council's director of public health.

A "public engagement" session will take place online instead of the full council meeting, including debates on three petitions from the public on planned cuts to school admissions.

While a special council meeting will take place in January to cover the general business.

Labour councillors have also criticised the Conservative group for "not taking this latest wave of Covid-19 seriously" and claimed they are taking an opportunity for "cheap political point scoring by claiming this sensible decision in line with public health guidance is 'anti-democratic'".

In a statement, the Labour group said: "We are in the midst of a serious public health pandemic, with cases of the new Omicron variant spiking, and with Brighton & Hove being above the national average for cases of Covid-19.

"The Labour and Green groups would prefer to conduct these meetings virtually in order to protect council staff and public participants, but government legislation no longer allows this.

"The Conservative government have wildly mishandled this public health emergency, and if the behaviour of the local Conservative group in recent days is any indication, this should come as little surprise.

"No wonder the death rate for the UK stands well over 2,000 deaths per million people, which is significantly higher than other European countries."

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