Issue - meetings

The Committee gave consideration to a report presented by the Assistant Director of Commercial and Operational Services, to update Members on Emergency and Business Continuity Plans and to propose annual training in Emergency Planning for Members. It was explained that the aim of Emergency Planning and Business Continuity arrangements was to ensure that the council’s response to an emergency, major incident or disruption was co-ordinated, focused and effective, minimising the impact on employees, Elected Members, customers, partners, service providers, assets and reputation. The WLDC Emergency Plan had been developed to ensure that the Council was able to respond to both internal business continuity challenges as well as to external emergencies requiring a multi-agency response under the Civil Contingencies Act 2004. It would be applicable to external and internal emergencies or disruptive events.

Members heard that Officers were involved in table-top exercises to test resilience as well as using a multi-agency approach to ensure plans and contingency measures were robust. Those Committee Members who had attended the earlier session on Emergency Planning expressed their thanks for the session and recommended to others as a worthwhile session. It was suggested that, whilst being agreed at the Committee, it could be referred to the Member Development Group for inclusion in their schedules.

There was discussion regarding events in the district that had required the implementation of the Emergency and Business Continuity Plan, specifically local instances of severe flooding, and it was recognised that cross-agency working was essential to manage a swift response. The Assistant Director of Commercial and Operational Services highlighted the mutual aid agreement that further supported cross-agency working.

With no further discussion, and having been moved and seconded, it was unanimously

            RESOLVED that

a)    the Emergency and Business Continuity Plan be accepted; and

b)    the annual Member training programme for Emergency Planning be approved.