The emergency powers due to be granted to Sunderland council chief during coronavirus crisis

Sunderland City Council is expected to approve a raft of special measures suspending usual rules and procedures when it meets on Wednesday March 25.

This will see Patrick Melia, the council’s chief executive, handed permission to authorise ‘any action reasonably necessary to protect the health, safety or welfare of individuals’.

This will include:

Responsibility for decisions normally made by council committees, such as planning and licensing Powers to nominate other council officers to make decisions, should a conflict of interest arise Appoint members of ‘committees, sub-committees, boards and external bodies’ which would normally require the approval of the full city council

A report for councillors says the measures will be on a ‘temporary basis’ only and ‘kept under review’, in line with government advice.

It adds that ‘where reasonably practicable’ all decisions will be made with input from the council’s elected leadership or the chairs of relevant committees.

The measures will be put to city council bosses on the ruling cabinet at 2pm on Tuesday, March 24, before being put to the full council on Wednesday for final approval.

Coun Graeme Miller, the leader of the council, has said the move is ‘due to the current unprecedented series of events’.

He said: “It may not be possible to summon full council or hold other decision-making meetings because of the need to reduce social contact, or where there has to be more urgent and rapid decision-making.”