Issue - meetings

Emergency planning and business continuity are statutory duties for BCP Council. Activity over the reporting period has been about continuing to build capability and put plans in place in line with higher risks, local and national learning, and nationally-driven priorities and workstreams such as planning for a national power outage. This report sets out the activities undertaken to achieve this and also highlights the challenges arising.

The Head of Audit and Management Assurance presented a report, a copy of which had been circulated to each Member and a copy of which appears as Appendix ‘F' to these Minutes in the Minute Book.

The Committee was reminded that emergency planning and business continuity were statutory duties for BCP Council and activity over the reporting period has been about continuing to build capability and put plans in place in line with higher risks, local and national learning, and nationally-driven priorities and workstreams such as planning for a national power outage.

The report set out the key emergency planning development activities undertaken and also provided an update on Business Continuity.

Members were advised that the outcome of the Internal Audit periodic review of corporate emergency planning and business continuity arrangements had provided a ‘Reasonable’ assurance opinion and that the issues raised were being addressed albeit within the context of reduction in available resources.

In response to a specific question about alignment with national resilience standards regarding business continuity strategy and level of compliance with resilience governance frameworks it was agreed that a full response be provided in writing to the Committee following the meeting.

RESOLVED that the Audit and Governance Committee notes

a)     the emergency planning and business continuity activity that has taken place during the monitoring period;

b)    the ongoing issues with delivering the business continuity management programme;

c)     the current issues within the Emergency Planning Team regarding resource and the impact this will have on service delivery;

d)    the current resilience position locally and nationally and the implications of this.

Voting: Unanimous