New cross-party Covid-19 Scrutiny Task Group has been set up to analyse the impact of the coronavirus crisis on the Harborough district

A leading Harborough councillor is backing a new council task panel set up to analyse the impact of the coronavirus crisis on the district.

Cllr Phil Knowles, who heads up the authority’s Liberal Democrat group, said the new Covid-19 Scrutiny Task Group was “critical”.

The cross-party unit will analyse and scrutinise how the council has responded, reacted and performed during the four-month virus pandemic.

Cllr Knowles said: “Looking at the work that has been carried out and the recovery phase is vital.

“Just as crucial is to look at the financial impact on the council, the operation of the council and the council structure - what went well and what lessons we need to learn.

“I hope that no stone will be left unturned.”

He added: “We also need to take the opportunity to engage with interested parties who might have suggestions to input.

“We need to learn the lessons, positives and negatives as this could well form the basis of an action document should it be needed in the future.”

Cllr Phil King, the council’s leader, said: “This short-term panel will investigate and look at a whole range of issues involving how we responded to Covid-19.

“It will bring back a report to be read and studied later in the year.”

He added: “I think that as a small authority without mega resources we have done well.

“But this task panel will look at how important information about the pandemic was distributed and disseminated to members, staff, stakeholders and the public, for example.

“I think we did well but this task group will consider how we could have done better.”