Issue - meetings

1.    PROPOSED BY COUNCILLOR PULLEN

“This council recognises the major impact the Covid 19 pandemic has had on Gloucester with virtually all areas in the city being affected. Many people have contracted the virus and too many have lost their lives with friends and families losing loved ones.

Health and welfare services have been pushed to the limit but have done a fantastic job in extremely difficult circumstances.

The business community has been severely hit with many local companies struggling to cope.

However, the resilience and determination of Gloucester people has shone through and there has been many excellent examples of people and organisations going that extra mile to help others.

The efforts of key workers have been phenomenal and along with our outstanding NHS staff they have continued to deliver essential services and their vital role in 4 looking after us. This has been despite often extreme and very challenging circumstances.

The city has also experienced a massive community spirit with local volunteers and community organisations looking after vulnerable people and those who were isolating, ensuring they had food and other essential supplies.

The Covid pandemic is not over yet and it may be still too early to call. However, it is time to start thinking about how Gloucester marks and remembers the huge impact that Covid has had on our city, the sacrifices people have made and the sterling community effort that took place in order to cope.

It would therefore be very appropriate to create a permanent and long lasting Covid Memorial to be placed in a prominent position in the city centre. The memorial would remember all those who lost their lives and be a fitting tribute to key workers in essential services and the phenomenal community effort that was made.

The memorial would tell the story of how the people of Gloucester coped with the Covid pandemic so that future generations could appreciate and understand the sacrifices that were made.

Gloucester City Council should take the lead in creating the memorial but should do so in partnership with the many appropriate organisations and interested parties in the city. This would ensure a structure that was created by and representative of a wide range of people communities and organisations.

Council resolves to:

·       Take the lead in creating a lasting Covid Memorial to be sited in a prominent position in the City Centre.

·       Design a fitting tribute that remembers those who lost their lives and recognises the immense contribution that key workers, volunteers and community organisations made during the crisis.

·       Bring together a partnership of appropriate organisations and agencies to deliver the project and draw on their resources, skills and talents.

·       Fully involve local people, communities and voluntary organisations.”

2.    PROPOSED BY COUNCILLOR FIELD

"Council notes the recent #bouncingback project, which was jointly funded by Gloucester BID and the City Council.

Council notes that this project sought to enhance the street scene by ‘converting often unkempt street furniture into bright points of interest’. 5 local artists were  ...  view the full agenda text for item 98