“If people disagree, all I can do is apologise”

Cllr Carl Borg-Neal, who represents Test Valley Borough Council, was photographed entertaining his in-laws on Wednesday afternoon at his home in Lawrence Close.

The families had formed a childcare bubble to give help as Cllr Borg-Neal's newborn baby had developed breathing difficulties shortly after birth and was in intensive care in an incubator for four days. 

Mr Borg-Neal said they organised the meal as a “thank you” to the other couple, who had been looking after his partner’s children while she was in hospital giving birth.

He felt there was “no issue” with the meal, as he, the sister and sister’s partner had come into close contact on and off for a period of five days prior to that, when Mr Borg-Neal visited the kids at the home they were staying.

These regular visits could appear to go against the Government guidelines which state: “Where parents or someone with parental responsibility do not live in the same household, children under 18 can be moved between their parents’ homes to continue existing arrangements for access and contact.”

However, Cllr Borg-Neal insisted that the families were part of a legal childcare bubble. 

The rules state people can form bubbles if they live in a household with a child under 14 and they can form a childcare bubble with one other household. 

Speaking to the Advertiser, the former mayor of Test Valley said: “It’s very simple, we’ve had a baby, my sister-in-law came to help with child care.

“We’ve been socially integrating in that second house with the children.

“I would go there and spend time with the children, rather than bring the kids home to this house (in Lawrence Close).”

These actions came despite the councillor - who receives allowances of close to £12,000 for his roles at Test Valley Council - continuing to leave his house for work.

“The point is, if the virus would’ve been transmitted between us, it would’ve been transmitted already,” he added.

“I felt that there was no issue because the point of lockdown is to stop transmission.

“If the police want to come round and fine me, then there isn’t anything I can do.

“If people disagree, all I can do is apologise.”

When asked to clarify what his work entails, the councillor said it was “irrelevant”, but that he “usually works from home and sometimes has to leave home for his job.”

Leader of the opposition in Test Valley and Lib Dem councillor, Celia Dowden, was sympathetic to Mr Borg-Neal’s situation, but said authority figures must set the example.

“This current situation is creating real difficult times for everybody,” she said.

“Whilst we understand the difficulties faced by many, particularly involving the birth of a new child, as community leaders we should be maintaining government rules.”

“We are all desperate to see the ones that we love, but the safety and wellbeing of family must be the first consideration.”

Mr Borg-Neal has been a Test Valley councillor since 2003.

It comes after government advisor Neil Ferguson quit his position after The Telegraph reported that a woman he was said to be in a relationship with visited his home in lockdown.

The Metropolitan Police said they did not intend to take any further action regarding Professor Ferguson’s behaviour.

*Article update - Cllr Borg-Neal said the incident was not investigated by the police as no wrongdoing could be found.