Historically, the role of local authorities in emergency planning has tended to be fairly ad hoc and in some cases as a 'throw-back' to the cold war and the old civil defence planning. However, times have changed and the role of emergency planning has had to change too.
2004 saw the introduction of the Civil Contingencies Act which places a statutory duty on local authorities to prepare for emergencies. (Further information about the Act can be obtained by clicking on the link on this page)
Huntingdonshire District Council has always taken emergency planning and its duty to its communities seriously and so welcomed the advent of the Act which has now placed its previous planning on a more formal basis.
The Civil Contingencies Act 2004 has created two levels of responders - Category 1 and Category 2 Responders. Local authorities are included in the Category 1 along with the emergency services and the National Health Service. Category 2 responders include the utility companies, such as water, gas, electricity, telephone and the transport companies.
The duties placed on local authorities as Category 1 responders include:
- Assess local risks and use this to inform emergency planning;
- Put in place emergency plans;
- Put in place business continuity management arrangements;
- Put in place arrangements to make information available to the public about civil protection matters;
- Maintain arrangements to warn, inform and advise the public in the event of an emergency;
- Share information with other local responders to enhance co-ordination;
- Co-operate with other local responders to enhance co-ordination and efficiency; and
- Provide advice and assistance to businesses and voluntary organisations about business continuity management.
The Act also places a requirement to complete a joint Community Risk Register and Huntingdonshire District Council have been part of a group comprising of representatives from all the Category 1 responders in Cambridgeshire and Peterborough to put together a Risk Register for the County. (Details of this Risk Register can be found by clicking on the link on this page)
National information relating to a possible Flu Pandemic can be found by clicking on the link on this page.
Further information on emergency planning in Huntingdonshire may be obtained by contacting:
CCTV and Emergency Planning Team Leader on Huntingdon (01480) 388388 or by using the email address to the right.