Emergency Planning

The Council works in close liaison with the Staffordshire Civil Contingencies Unit (CCU) to meet legislation in the form of the Civil Contingencies Act 2004 and various other statutory guidance. This Act deems Councils as well as emergency services as Category 1 responders with specific statutory requirements for emergency matters, notably:

Co-operation
Information Sharing
Risk Assessment
Emergency Planning
Business Continuity Management
Communicating with the public
Working with the voluntary sector
Audit and Monitoring

One key part of this is new risk assessment duties as category 1 responders have to assess the risk of emergencies occurring and to use those assessments to inform their emergency planning and business continuity planning processes.

Risk assessment is the first step in the emergency planning process. It enables response organisations to make plans that are sound and proportionate to the risks that exist in their local area.

In the Staffordshire area a multi-agency approach (under the guidance of the Staffordshire Resilience Forum) has been adopted for the risk assessment work that has been undertaken and this process has engaged a wide range of stakeholders and partner organisations. The Staffordshire Community Risk Register can be viewed on the Staffordshire Prepared website by using the link below.

The Government has published a National Risk Register (August 2008) which can be viewed on the Cabinet Office's website (see link below under general emergency planning issues) which aims to:

provide the public with information about the kind of risks the UK could face e.g. natural events, and
provide advice on how organisations, individuals, families and communities might better prepare for major emergencies.

This Council has also produced its own local Risk Register based on specific community risks within the District. To view this Register click on the link below.

In response to a major incident, all local authorities in Staffordshire work together to:

Provide support to the emergency services
Continue their normal support and care for the wider community
Use resources to mitigate the effects of the incident
Co-ordinate the response by organisations other than the emergency services

As time progresses, and the emphasis switches to recovery, this Council will take a leading role to facilitate the rehabilitation of the community and restoration of the environment.

The Council works closely with the CCU, based at Stafford Fire Station. The CCU aims to provide a framework of contingency plans, e.g. flooding, chemical releases, animal health, etc., resources, and

liaison contacts that enable this Council's staff to develop an integrated approach to emergency management. The CCU coordinate the Council's and voluntary sector response to any emergency. All agencies including this Council train in their roles and responsibilities and keep under review its integrated emergency management plan. The plans are tested and validated at regular intervals to ensure that they operate efficiently and effectively in any emergency.

We have our own Business Continuity Plan as a Council, which was updated and tested in March 2008 and again in March 2009, this time conducted by the Civil Contingencies Unit and involving liaising with Cannock Chase Council.

We encourage all businesses to think of their arrangements for continuing to operate in an emergency such as caused by fire or flood etc. Attached as links are documents on the process and further information is available from the CCU or from the Business Continuity Institute.

South Staffordshire Council promotes joint working

South Staffordshire Council hosted a meeting at its offices in Codsall on 9th June 2010 to help promote joint working with its neighbouring Local Authorities in the West Midlands.

Emergency Planning leads from Walsall and Dudley Metropolitan Borough Councils joined staff from the CCU in examining how the Local Authorities can improve links that would be useful to them during a Major Incident.

Phil Hardy from South Staffordshire Council outlined the value of the meeting: "This was a great opportunity for us all to build a far wider understanding of how we can share knowledge, expertise and capabilities to assist communities in a crisis. Civil Contingencies risks do not respect boundaries on a map, so for us in South Staffordshire it is vital that we work closely with our neighbours."

Sarah Moore from the CCU highlighted one key area where the Local Authorities represented at the meeting can look to work in partnership: "During a Major Incident, it is vital to gain a clear picture on key locations, such as Rest Centres. Much of this can be developed through sharing existing electronic mapping data that most Local Authorities already hold. Yesterday's meeting highlighted how we might be able to take this principle forward across a neighbouring Local Resilience Forum boundary".

Swine Flu

For the latest news on the swine flu outbreak visit the News page of this site.

Police non-emergency phone number

Staffordshire Police have launched their non-emergency number for contacting them, other than in an emergency when you should call 999.

The new phone number for contacting the police in Staffordshire is

0300 123 4455.

Calls are charged at 6p a minute from a BT landline. Call charges from other landlines and mobiles may vary. You will speak to a call handler who will connect you to the person you need.

For further information view their website under links below.

Support after a major incident

The Humanitarian Assistance Unit within the Government Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) has been working in partnership with other government departments, bereaved families and survivors and specialists, to develop a series of aftercare webpages that will provide the public with practical information in the medium and longer term following a major incident. The pages will also signpost individuals to sources of additional support.

To view this support webpages see under the Direct Gov link below.

Travel after a severe weather warning

Research from the Highways Agency shows that 50% of road users would continue with a journey after hearing a severe weather warning and 33% would not carry out any checks on their vehicles before setting off.

Motorists should consider carrying a severe weather kit that should comprise - an ice scraper and de-icer, a torch, warm clothes, a blanket, a pair of boots, first-aid kit, battery jump leads and if it is likely to snow, food and drink.

Real time traffic information is now available on DAB digital radio and the internet at www.trafficradio.org.uk .

To contact the Highways Agency see the link below or phone the Highways Agency 24-hour voice activated phone service on 08700 660 115 (calls from a BT landline should cost no more than 8p per minute - mobile calls will vary).

Links