Dedicated Dumfries and Galloway Council workers have been praised for their incredible work in helping the region get through another extremely difficult year.
Special thanks were given to the workforce at last week’s full council meeting for the way they’ve handled the pressures of the pandemic – keeping important public services running and supporting NHS colleagues.
North West Dumfries Councillor David McKie tabled a motion at the council meeting sharing his “immense pride” over the contribution made by all levels of staff.
It reads: “Given the unprecedented times the council and indeed the entire world have been dealing with since early last year with the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic the council would like to formally pay tribute to all staff for the tremendous work and commitment they have shown over this period in keeping vital services operating at a time when communities and business have needed them most.
“It is a source of immense pride that council services have adapted in ways we would not have envisaged and as far as possible continued to be delivered during this challenging period which is in no small part due to the resourcefulness and passion of our staff.
“You have been a credit to yourselves, the communities you serve and the council and for that we place on record our gratitude and thanks.”
Fellow councillors Archie Dryburgh and depute council leader Rob Davidson echoed Councillor McKie’s sentiments.
Councillor Dryburgh, who represents the Annandale East and Eskdale ward, said: “Across the region we have seen our workforce – whether that be in social work, education, communities, or other departments – rise up and go above and beyond what is expected of them. They continue to do so.
“This new variant has put further pressure on our staff, yet they still want to do the best they can for their communities.
“I, for one, am proud of their achievements in very difficult circumstances.
“Where the NHS rightly deserve praise for what they do. Our staff have co-operated to ensure that the pressure they find themselves in is not as hard as it could be, considering the amount of work that the council does supporting the NHS.”
Abbey Ward Councillor Rob Davidson highlighted amazing achievements from last year that included council staff processing £92 million in business grants, issuing more than 3,000 digital devices so that pupils could begin home schooling, and more than 2,000 employees were directed to do frontline critical work during lockdowns.
He said: “The pressures on all of our services seem likely to be going to increase, given the concerns about the impact of the new Covid variant.
“Looking at some of the statistics from what had been achieved last year.
“The scale and magnitude of the changes that were required and what we had to ask of the people who work for us were absolutely profound.”
