Issue - meetings

Emergency planning and business continuity are statutory duties for BCP Council.  This annual monitoring report gives an overview of key activity in relation to these duties over the period concerned and provides assurance to Audit and Governance Committee with regard to these statutory duties.

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 'F' to these Minutes in the Minute Book.

The annual monitoring report gave an overview of key activity in relation to the Council’s statutory duties of emergency planning and business continuity over the period concerned. The report was intended to provide assurance to the Committee with regard to these statutory duties. The Emergency Planning and Resilience Manager drew attention to the Council’s response to the recommendations arising from the Grenfell public inquiry, one of which emphasised ‘the need for the staff of local authorities to treat resilience and preparedness for emergencies as an essential part of their responsibilities’. As a result of this, a standard clause in relation to emergency response was being added to all new BCP Council contracts being issued under Pay and Reward, to support the mobilisation and redeployment of staff. She also highlighted that the South West Regional Cyber Crime Unit (RCCU) been invited to deliver an exercise to test the Council’s cyber response plan and related business continuity arrangements on 9 December 2025.

The Emergency Planning and Resilience Manager responded to questions about the report. She agreed to share the outcomes of the South West RCCU exercise with the Chair. She was also asked about the role of ward councillors in supporting their communities. She explained that a councillor protocol was being developed to assist members in emergency response. Training sessions had also be arranged to assist councillors in supporting community resilience pre and post emergency. This work would help to focus resources where most needed.

A committee member reported that where a fire and evacuation at the Gainsborough care home was referenced in paragraph 32 of the report, a fire appliance had attended the incident but there had not been a fire.

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 improved resourcing position within the Emergency Planning Team which has enabled the team to refocus on the work programme in support of the organisation;

(c)  the background information on the national context for resilience and how this is likely to direct local level activity.

Voting: Agreed with no dissent