Councillors paused their meeting to take part in the weekly Clap for Carers.

Medway Council met for the first time since the lockdown and social distancing rules came into force with a smaller than usual meeting streamed live online.

Medway councillors take part in weekly Clap for Carers

The 12 councillors – five Conservative, five Labour, independent and mayor Habib Tejan – joined in the national applause at 8pm last night.

Council officers also present to oversee proceedings and ensure the stream ran smoothly joined in the now weekly event.

Speaking at the start of the meeting, Cllr Tejan (Con) said: "We will pause the meeting briefly at 8pm for what has quickly become a weekly tradition to clap for our carers."

He also led the council in a minute's silence to remember all the victims who have died from coronavirus.

Council leader Alan Jarrett (Con) said: "It's fitting this meeting should fall on a Thursday when the weekly clap provides an opportunity to thank and reflect on their contribution to communities.

"It's curious that something that's made us socially distant has brought us closer together.

"The response from people of Medway has been outstanding."

Speaking on the live streaming taking place, Cllr Jarrett added: "It nice to know some people have abandoned Netflix to watch us here tonight."

Councillors from both parties – Conservative and Labour – repeatedly thanked the hard-working efforts of health and council staff as well as other key workers and volunteers for continuing to keep communities together.

Labour leader Cllr Vince Maple said: "Thank you for accepting our proposals for a minute's silence and to take part in the 8pm clap.

"I look forward to taking part in that."

The council passed a motion thanking workers for "tireless dedication" for the frontline workers and volunteers helping the community response.

Debate centred around the final line of the motion, proposed by Cllr Maple that the council "commits to taking all possible action" for protection in place for frontline workers and volunteers.

Cllr Jarrett responded: "People may say this is semantics but we have to bear in mind what history will make of this pandemic.

"What I don't want is a historian, or someone fed up with watching Netflix and reads old council minutes, is to read this and say: 'So the Labour group had to move a motion because this council wasn't taking all positive possible actions'.

"That might not be what this means but it's the way we read it."

Cllr Jarrett proposed amending the words saying the council "continues its commitment to taking all positive actions" to ensure "relevant protections are in place for those front line workers and volunteers".

Labour rejected the proposed amendment but this was passed by the full council when it was put to the full vote.

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