Minutes:
O&S.6/17
The Senior Specialist – Environmental Health conducted a presentation that provided an update with regard to Emergency Planning, Response and Resilience.
In so doing, the Panel noted that the Council was a Category 1 responder (as defined by the Civil Contingencies Act 2004) and duties of the authority were therefore:
- To produce, maintain and test plans on how the Council would respond to emergencies;
- To warn and inform the public in regards to emergencies and provide advice before emergencies;
- To work with other Category 1 responders through the Local Resilience Forum;
- To ensure that the Council could continue to deliver its services during an emergency; and
- To provide advice on Business Continuity to others.
To meet these duties, the Council:
- adopted an Emergency Response Plan in February 2017;
- actively warned the public utilising social media and its website about potential emergencies;
- remained an active member of the Devon, Cornwall and Isles of Scilly Local Resilience Forum; and
- remained a member of both the Devon Emergency Planning Service and the Devonport Off-site Emergency Planning Group.
In the ensuing discussion, reference was made to:-
(a) related information being circulated to the wider membership outside of this meeting. The Panel requested that Members be in receipt of:
o a copy of the presentation;
o a link to the Community Risk Register;
o the adopted Guidance for Elected Members on Responses to Major Emergencies; and
o additional explanatory information on the Devon Resilience Forum;
(b) Strategic Rest Centres (SRCs) in the South Hams. Members were informed that the SRC plan for Devon was currently under review. At present, the Panel noted that there were 6 SRCs across the South Hams in various locations (e.g. Leisure Centres and Colleges) which could each accommodate up to 1,000 people. With regard to the management of each SRC, such were the resource implications that local authorities were heavily reliant upon support from the voluntary sector.
As part of the review, it was confirmed that usage levels would be taken into account. In recent times, it was noted that a SRC had only been used once in the South Hams and it was acknowledged that, in every likelihood, affected residents would tend to go and stay with friends and family instead;
(c) the role of town and parish councils. The Panel noted that a number of proactive town and parish councils had adopted their own local emergency plan and the view was expressed that all councils should follow suit;
(d) reacting to emergencies. Officers confirmed that, regardless of the time of day or night, the Council was in a position to react immediately to an emergency in the district, with six officers being on call at all times. Whilst this level of resource was currently deemed appropriate by officers, it was recognised that this would need to be subject to regular review by lead officer(s) and Executive Member(s).
In conclusion, the Chairman wished to thank the Senior Specialist – Environmental Health for his informative presentation and responses to Member questions and it was then:
RESOLVED
That the Panel recognise that the Council has a robust approach to Emergency Planning in place, which is supported by hard working and diligent lead officers.