March 23, 2020 11.23 am This story is over 60 months old

City Hall services restricted to emergency enquiries

Services restricted
City Hall, off Orchard Street in Lincoln | Photo Steve Smailes for The Lincolnite

Council services at City Hall in Lincoln have been restricted to emergency enquiries following the coronavirus outbreak.

Opening hours will be reduced from 10am until 2pm from today (March 23).

Council leader Ric Metcalfe said the authority was determined to keep essential services going in the city.

The council has already cancelled a number of formal meetings amid the outbreak.

You can follow live updates on coronavirus from around Lincoln and Lincolnshire in our live blog.

Councillor Ric Metcalfe, Leader of City of Lincoln Council

Services such as bin collections will continue as normal, however those offered at City Hall will be restricted to emergency enquiries.

Councillor Metcalfe said the virus will inevitably have an impact on the council, but added it will do everything it can to keep services going.

“We are determined to keep essential services going,” he said.

“Obviously the current situation has forced us to review what we can deliver with a slightly reduced workforce because some of our workforce is affected in various ways by this.

“But we are going to concentrate on making sure that essential services are kept running.”

Councils across Lincolnshire have cancelled meetings and closed public buildings amid the crisis.

Lincolnshire County Council implemented a raft of measures, including reduced health visits and closure of heritage sites.

Meanwhile, North Lincolnshire Council shut most of its public buildings on Friday.

South Kesteven, North Kesteven, West Lindsey and East Lindsey have also introduced measures in response to the virus.

It comes as 14 cases of COVID-19 have been confirmed in Lincolnshire, with at least two patients in hospital care.

Both North Lincolnshire and North East Lincolnshire have two confirmed cases of coronavirus each.

SUBSCRIBE TO LOCAL DEMOCRACY WEEKLY, our exclusive email newsletter with highlights from our coverage every week and insights and analysis from our local democracy reporters.