Report of the Strategic Director, Communites and Environment

The Committee received a report which provided an update on the last six months in relation to the Strategic Resilience and Emergency Planning Framework.

The framework has recently been refreshed and this was presented to Corporate Resources OSC in September 2017 followed by endorsement at Cabinet in December 2017.

The Emergency Response Team has been involved in responding to a number of diverse incidents and planning for a pre-planned operation once again over the last six months.

Some of the issues included:

·         Fire at the former Springs Health Club, Low Fell – 25 March 2018

·         Property fire at Newbolt Court, Gateshead – 18 March 2018

·         Adverse Weather – 27 February – 4 March 2018

·         Operation Caritas – 15 January 2018

Some of the exercises the emergency response team have been involved in include –

·         Critical Level Workshop – March 2018 – this was a multi-agency workshop that was held to explore the preparedness, response and recovery plans when the UK Terrorism Threat Level is raised to critical from the result of a terrorist incident

·         Exercise Skynet – February 2018 – the purpose of this exercise was to test the multi-agency response to a cyber-attack on IT systems and the associated command and control structure. 

·         Simulated Fire Fighting Exercise – February 2018 – this was a simulated exercise led by Tyne and Wear Fire and Rescue Service in conjunction with the Gateshead Housing Company.  It involved testing a new system of work using Breathing Apparatus and hose management and deployment elements of a new high rise procedure – this took place at Eslington Court.

·         Site Incident Officer Training – December 2017 – in conjunction with Northumbria Police this was specific training for the council’s Emergency Response Team Site Incident Officers which involved looking at roles and responsibilities using a previous incident that was experienced within Gateshead.

·         Exercise Resilience Rat – November 2017 – this was an exercise led by the Armed Forces and involved the exercising of a MACA (Military Assistance to Civil Authorities) request.

·         Exercise Border Reiver – October 2017 – this was a multi-agency national safety and security exercise led by Police Scotland supported by Northumbria Police and the Northumbria Local Resilience Forum.  The exercise was Tier 1 and involved the activation of COBRA (Cabinet Office Briefing Room A) to test the collective central government responses to an emergency.

As part of all operations, exercises and incidents that are managed by the Council, a debrief process is completed to ensure a thorough analysis of the actions undertaken can be reviewed.

The report also provided updates on progress within the Themed Areas over the last six months.

Building Resilient and Stronger Communities – working with businesses, the voluntary sector, partner agencies, communities and individuals to ensure they are better prepared for and able to recover from emergencies.

·         The Council in conjunction with Northumbria Police has established a Gateshead Business Resilience Forum.  The purpose of the group is to bring key organisations and businesses within the Gateshead area to collaboratively work together within the resilience and emergency planning arena.

·         Following the tragic Grenfell Tower Block Fire, a seminar was provided for councillors in October 2017 with an insight as to how a similar emergency and resilience situation would be responded to within Gateshead, along with a reminder of the Emergency Response Guidance for Councillors. 

·         A Northumbria Voluntary Emergency Liaison Group has been established which is chaired by the Council.  The purpose of the group is to work with key organisations within the Northumbria area to look at the voluntary sector coordination in emergency response and recovery and to consider the various capacities and capabilities that exist within this sector.

Assessing Risk – identifying hazards and threats that may affect Gateshead implementing measures that may prevent an emergency or incident occurring:

·         The Council’s new Pandemic Influenza Plan was endorsed by Cabinet in January 2018.  Work is currently ongoing, being led by Gateshead to look at reviewing options of the provision of Personal Protection Equipment.

·         Over the last 18 months, a sustained volume of work has taken place to review as to how the Council would respond to a terrorist attack situation.  This has involved looking at lessons learnt from the exercising over the court of this year and incorporating them into the council’s plans and protocols to improve the responses to these types of incidents.

·         The Resilience and Emergency Planning Team provided a recent report and presentation at the Audit and Standards Committee in March 2018.  The purpose of the report was to provide an overview of the risks associated to the Council within the Resilience and Emergency Planning function; provide an overview of the Community Risk Register and how the Council operates to mitigate and mange those risks.

Enhancing our partnership arrangement to respond and recover – the effective response and co-ordination of arrangements in the event of an emergency or incident occurring

·         An out of hours Duty Officer System has now been implemented within the Council’s Emergency Response Team.  A rota has been implemented with the current HQ Co-ordinators which ensures that the same person isn’t receiving all the calls and responding to issues.

·         Following a presentation from Northumbria Local Resilience Forum in 2017, the seven Chief Executives within the North East Combined Authority Area (NECA) requested a Strategic Table Top Emergency Response Exercise.  This was led by the Council and provide an opportunity for the Chief Executives to discuss strategic level responses to a major emergency and develop a shared understanding of mutual aid arrangements and assistance between local authorities.

·         The Council has strengthened it’s working arrangements with the Gateshead Health NHS Foundation Trust and the Queen Elizabeth Hospital.  This was tested during the adverse weather very recently during February and March with regular teleconferences and the sharing of response arrangements and plans as the incident developed.

It was queried whether anything had come out of the de-brief in regards to the adverse whether, it was noted that this was not yet completed but feedback overall was very positive.

It was queried whether the planning for the flu pandemic was necessary, in particular with regards to the purchase of PPE.  It was noted that initially a supply of 3 months of stock would be purchased on a rolling basis.  It was also noted that this is something which is on the National Risk Register and which we are therefore obliged to include in our own.

It was queried whether there would be any changes to the annual exercise in light of any future decisions relating to devolution.    It was noted that this will be an annual exercise and currently there are no plans in place to change the attendance.

RESOLVED    (i)         That the comments of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee be noted.

                        (ii)        That it be noted that the Overview and Scrutiny Committee are satisfied with the progress achieved within the last six months.

                        (iii)        That a further report be submitted in September 2018.