The Civil Contingencies Act & its Implications for Emergency Planning, A Practitioners View Ian Hoult County Emergency Planning Officer

Me? A practitioner? Don’t be cynical & get on with it!

Presentation Outline Brief History Why the Act The Requirements of the Act What’s in place already The Challenges Ahead Conclusion

Brief History Civil Defence Act 1948 (& subsequent amendments) End of the Cold War Lockerbie, Clapham, Kegworth, Hilsborough, Herald of Free Enterprise etc etc 1993 Regs Decemeber 3 rd 2000 Prescott orders Review Then…..

Why The CC Act? EP throughout the Country is “patchy” No sound foundations Many examples of good practice but no consistency Poor relationship between local and central government responding departments Insufficient Funding

The Act 2 parts: –Part One about emergencies and the local response –Part Two amends the 1920s emergency powers acts –This presentation only relates to part 1.

Background to the Act Act describes organisations as either category 1 or 2 responders (or ignores them) Category 1 responders: Police, Fire, Ambulance, Local Authorities (all types and tiers), Health, Coastguard, Environment Agency.

Background to the Act Category 2 Responders: –Utilities (gas, water, electricity, telecomms), Railway operators, airports, harbour authorities, HSE, Highways Agency. Cat 1 responders must liase with each cat 2 in the same police force area at least twice a year

Background to the Act The Ignored: –Voluntary Agencies –Government Departments –Central Government generally except Regional Offices –Airline companies –Various other ancilliary support agencies

Background to the Act The Act is “enabling legislation” The detail is (or will be) in the Regulations and Guidance –Beware the word “Guidance” –“Statutory Guidance” Oxymoron?

Requirements of the Act Duty to assess, plan and advise: –Formal Risk Assessment Process –Plan for those events or sites which require a plan as identified by RA, or other legislation or under direction by the Minister –Publish the plans and warn inform and advise the public

Risk Assessment Volcano Planning Formalised Process “Statutory Guidance” Will we only plan for the foreseeable?

Requirements of the Act Business Continuity Planning –The requirement upon Local Authorities is threefold: Do it yourself - i.e. have a BCP Promote the concept to all businesses in your area Provide those businesses that ask with a BCP service at cost

What’s in place already (in Hampshire) It is generally agreed that Emergency Planning in Hampshire is in pretty good shape and in the main the CCA serves to ratify our current arrangements Liaison and co-operation particularly are long established and sound

So…. The Challenges Formalise the Group Structure and reporting chains Risk Assessment Business Continuity Planning Warning and Advising the Public

The Challenges New duty on District Authorities –Previous legislation only applied to 1 st tier authorities, Districts had only one duty – to provide the County with people to train in emergency response.

The Challenges Funding (& money generally) –Good news – the CSR announcement July 04 doubled the amount of money LA’s will receive for EP (£19.1M to £40.5M) –Bad news – not ring fenced, but going into RSG (EPCS block) –For Provision of Service County will charge Districts – but a subsidised service

The Challenges Checks and Balances –Audit Commission, Self Assessment Tool –CPA, key line of questioning –Regional Government feedback –District Audit –Etc..

Conclusion We welcome the Act ( with certain caveats and the odd misgiving) Be careful what you wish for, you might just get it Ancient Chinese Curse – May you live in interesting times!

The best thing about not planning is that failure comes as a complete surprise and is not preceded by a period of worry and depression Sir John Harvey-Jones

Any Questions?