Issue - meetings

Emergency planning and business continuity activity in BCP Council over the reporting period has continued to be predominantly focused on the ongoing response to COVID-19 and concurrent risks, managing the consequences arising from these, and transitioning to living safely with COVID-19 as part of normal business.  The BCP and Local Resilience Forum (LRF) command structures have therefore flexed considerably over this period to meet the demands of an ever-changing picture with new sets of challenges. 

The other main area of activity has been implementing the BCP Resilience Governance Framework approved by Corporate Management Board (CMB) in September 2020, the overall purpose of which is to strengthen and embed the statutory duties of emergency planning and business continuity and develop a resilience culture.  The framework also provides the necessary governance to support delivery and oversight of these statutory duties.

This report also provides an update on national developments in resilience, due in part to the experiences of COVID-19.

The Emergency Planning and Resilience Manager presented a report, a copy of which had been circulated to each Member and a copy of which appears as Appendix 'B' to these Minutes in the Minute Book.

The Committee was advised that Emergency Planning and business continuity activity in BCP Council over the reporting period had continued to be predominantly focused on the ongoing response to COVID and concurrent risks, managing the consequences arising from these, and transitioning to living safely with COVID as part of normal business.

It was reported that the BCP Council and Local Resilience Forum command structures had flexed considerably over the period to meet the demands of an ever-changing picture and new sets of challenges. 

In response to questions, it was confirmed that, although COVID had presented a significant distraction and had had an impact on developmental work, focus on concurrent risk and business as usual risk had been maintained. Resources were considered sufficient to ensure that forward progress was being made whilst at the same time addressing high risk ongoing activity such as the Air Festival event and the enhanced seasonal pressures within the BCP Council area. There has been some instability experienced within the team due to staffing changes although vacancies had now been successfully replaced through recruitment.

It was reported that the other main area of activity had been implementation of the BCP Resilience Governance Framework as approved by Corporate Management Board in September 2020. The overall purpose of the framework was to strengthen and embed the statutory duties of emergency planning and business continuity and develop a resilience culture.  The framework also provided the necessary governance to support delivery and oversight of these statutory duties.

There were also questions raised by the Committee about the impact of the fuel demand pressures experienced during September and particularly the implications on the programme of moving towards electric vehicles within the Council fleet. A multi-agency debrief was reported to be taking place shortly and was likely to address the wider implications of what happened although it was explained that balancing the effect of electricity power failure was also part of the consideration.

The report also provides an update on national developments in resilience, due in part to the experiences of COVID.

The Committee recorded its appreciation of the successful work of the Emergency Planning Manager and her team in maintaining resilience over a very challenging period whilst, at the same time, continuing to ‘catch up’ with the established schedule of planned work.

RESOLVED that the Audit and Governance Committee notes

(a)  the continued response to COVID-19 and the transition to business as usual;

(b)  the update on the Integrated Security Review and the National Resilience Strategy;

(c)  progress in implementing the BCP Resilience Governance Framework.

Voting: Unanimous