Ceredigion MS Elin Jones has backed calls to scrap the Gold Command after the deputy leader of Ceredigion council said that criticisms of the authority are “disappointing” following complaints over councillors being left out of the decision-making process during the pandemic.

Earlier this month, the Cambrian News reported how Aberystwyth councillor Ceredig Davies was leading calls for the council’s Gold Command to be stripped of its powers after it was confirmed that controversial ‘safe zone’ restrictions will continue despite the lifting of the majority of coronavirus rules by the Welsh Government as the country moved to alert level zero.

Rules on the controversial safe zones, as well as thousands of other decisions, were taken without councillor input throughout the last 18 months after temporary delegated powers have been given to the council’s chief executive Eifion Evans and the Gold Command leadership group allowing them to make “urgent decisions relating to the authority’s response to the pandemic”.

Cllr Davies said it was now time to disband the group and put the decision-making back in the hands of elected members.

Many backed his calls, and letters and comments to the Cambrian News, including many on Facebook, called for the council to scrap the Gold Command.

Ms Jones said this week that both her and MP Ben Lake “have written twice to the council’s leader asking her to resume democratic control in Ceredigion as the legislation allows and other neighbouring councils have long done.”

“Currently powers are delegated by the leader to officers until the end of August and can then be restored to all elected Ceredigion councillors,” she said.

“We believe that both officers and councillors in Ceredigion have worked tirelessly to protect our communities throughout the past 18 months, but at alert level zero, then usual democratic practices should resume.

“This pandemic may be with us for many more months, even years, and we must now deal with it within our established democratic structures.”

This week, deputy leader Cllr Ray Quant said it was “disappointing to read so many negative reports and letters criticising Ceredigion County Council and Gold Command and their actions during the Covid pandemic.”

“Just 16 months ago, the majority of Ceredigion residents were in favour of the many prompt and effective actions taken by the council in locking down the county to minimise the spread of the Covid virus,” Cllr Quant said.

“Under current rules, Gold Command is operational and does not include any councillors.

“The prompt operational actions taken by Gold Command made a major contribution towards Ceredigion being the safest county in Wales and in mainland UK over many months.

“It has been said by some, including senior councillors, that the council has become an officer led council.

“I personally don’t buy into that.

“We all have a role to play in the functioning of Ceredigion council.”