VIRTUAL HAS LANDED: SPACE-AGE SATELITTE TECHNOLOGY KEEPS OUR SMALL PART OF THE POLITICAL PLANET IN TOUCH WITH ITS DEMOCRATIC ROOTS

IT didn't quite have the same gravitas as that giant leap for mankind on July 20, 1969 but "Good evening, Atherstone here. Is that the sign for yes?" was pretty damn close for Mayor Brian Moss to give lift-off to democratic history in the South Street civic chamber.

A 'virtual' annual meeting of North Warwickshire Borough Council – born out of necessity from a globe fighting the coronavirus pandemic and relying on space-age satellite technology to conduct civic business – had landed.

Some 44 people initially took the time to view 12 minutes of streaming on YouTube – and something of which the local authority may have to take ownership for the foreseeable future.

The North Warwickshire mayor – top left of the nine-faces in view on the screen at any one time – took centre stage for the first meeting of any kind since the police-making Executive Board observed social distancing measures before racing through its busines in four minutes on March 16.

Last night's meeting saw Councillor Moss, council leader David Wright, chief executive Steve Maxey and representatives from the council's democratic services and IT teams stage the proceedings from the authority's civic offices.

The rest of the members were on the outside – looking in remotely, along with the watching public.

The first citizen – in his second spell as ceremonial head of the borough – certainly soared like the proverbial eagle in terms of conducting the shortened council agenda with old fashioned dignity and aplomb – and including a passing reference to working on the "deck of a Concorde"

He began: "Good evening members, officers, and those watching on YouTube" before reminding everyone of the "very unusual times" in which we find ourselves living under the yoke of Covid-19.

The mayor added: "I am grateful to you all to go remotely so we can isolate and social distance, to play our part in reducing the spread of this virus."

And then asked for a little leeway to "bear with us if there are any glitches" with the technology (please note the video starts 28 minutes in).

In what was a recurring theme all night of unanimity between opposing political groups, he added: "Thank you for all the hard work by members and officers to prepare for this evening."

This point was taken up by Labour group leader Adam Farrell who praised the officers for having to adapt processing planning procedures during Covid lockdown – "working phenomenally hard over last seven to eight weeks to completely change the way we have done things" for the last 20 to 30 years.

Chief executive Steve Maxey was singled out as "outstanding" for keeping council members "informed and engaged" in unprecedented times.

There was talk of the vital need for the council to "get on with ordinary business" and Councillor Wright spoke of moving forward to "recover from this emergency".

There was no mention of deputy mayor Councillor Ray Jarvis taking over as mayor from Councillor Moss who has seen his 12-month term cut short by the impact of the virus on everyday civic ceremonial duties.

Councillor Jarvis has told Nub News that the normal protocol of an annual handover is "not a done deal" and has to be decided at a full council meeting of 35 members.

As the meeting ended there was chance to reflect on US President Richard Nixon's telephone call (no mobiles) to Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin on their lunar landing and adapting it to last night: For 12 priceless moments in the whole history of Atherstone, all the people watching on YouTube were truly one with North Warwickshire Borough Council.

God bless Atherstone . . .