Decision - Emergency Planning and Resilience - Preventing and Responding to Emergencies

 (1) That committee notes the review of the council’s emergency planning services as set out in the report and the Internal Audit finding of ‘Substantial Assurance’ in June 2017 in relation to the Council’s emergency planning and business continuity controls;

(2)The Committee instructs the Chief Executive to write to the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government:

i)          asking the Secretary to provide information on the timescale for a review of part B of the Building Regulations (2010) that relate to Fire Safety;

ii)         to request that, in the event that the outcome of the Grenfell Tower inquiry recommends new actions or measures, that the Government will endeavour to work with local Councils in order that any necessary additional funding can be identified;

iii)        and, in light of the complaints of the Grenfell Tower tenants that their safety concerns were not appropriately acknowledged, to call on the Government to review the guidance and regulation of housing providers concerning tenant participation and scrutiny,

(3)       The Committee recommend a cross party working group is convened to oversee the changes and readiness of the council for emergencies;

(4)       That the Committee instructs officers to bring an annual report to the NICE committee updating on changes and readiness of the council for emergencies;

(5)       That committee instructs officers to bring a further report in 6 months with an update on arrangements being developed with communities and the community and voluntary sector as set out in section 5 of the report; and

(6)       That Committee notes the proposal to run workshop sessions for elected members to understand how we can best support their role in an emergency.