Agenda item

To submit a report by the Deputy Chief Executive.

Submitted – a report by the Deputy Chief Executive in relation to the above.

The Leader of the Council said that the Council has duties for emergency planning and response under the Civil Contingencies Acts 2004, the Radiation (Emergency Preparedness and Public Information) Regulations 2001, and the Pipeline Safety Regulations 1996.  The Council is a principal responder and meets its obligations by collaborating with the North Wales Local Authorities through the North Wales Council’s Regional Emergency Planning Service.

The Deputy Chief Executive reported that North Wales is the first region in Wales to form a fully integrated service to support all Council’s to fulfil their duties.  It is supported by an Executive Board of all six Councils.  This is underpinned by a Service Level Agreement and an Inter-Authority Agreement.  Within the Council, responsibilities for emergency planning and response are shared across services and nominated service representatives are identified within the Emergency Management Response Team structure.  He further said that working in partnership with the emergency services, local authorities and Welsh Government is fundamental to address any emergency that arise.  The Deputy Chief Executive said that it is hoped that emergency measures as regards to the pandemic will ease and it is timely for the Emergency Planning Services to review the procedures and to learn and improve any future emergency procedures due to the pandemic.

The Regional Manager – North Wales Councils Regional Emergency Planning Service reported that during the pandemic the Regional Emergency Planning Service were able to conform with its statutory duties.  The Service supported local authorities and the health services in identifying vaccination centres, attending local resilience group and strategic co-ordinating groups on behalf of the local authorities.  Multi-agency working continued and surge testing plan was put in place due to the high levels of covid identified in certain areas. 

The Regional Emergency Planning Officer reported that the Regional Emergency Planning Service has worked jointly with the local authority and other agencies during the recent storms.  The Service has also supported the local authorities with the Bus strike and fuel crisis that emerged at the end of last year. 

The Committee considered the report and made the following main points:-

·      The Chair questioned whether companies on the Island have their own emergency procedures in place as was similar at the Wylfa Nuclear Power station when emergency exercises were undertaken. The Deputy Chief Executive responded that the companies on the Island are aware of their statutory duty and they conduct emergency exercises and training procedures.  The organisations that would respond to any incident are part of these exercises and to make sure that the response process is as robust as it is possible. The Regional Manager said that the Emergency Planning Service are part of the emergency exercise with other emergency organisations.  This allows for the joint agencies to build a good working relationship with each other to address any emergency that may arise;

·      Reference was made that the recent storms affected many areas of the UK with the loss of electricity for a number of days.  Questions were raised as to whether there is provision in place by the Regional Emergency Service to address such loss of electricity on the Island.  The Regional Emergency Planning Officer responded that each agency would collaborate in such an emergency with the loss of power due to storms.  Collaborating is taking place with Scottish Power to address their role;

·      Reference was made to the recent serious road traffic accident on the Beaumaris road and the congestion of traffic was of concerns.  Questions were raised whether communications with the public is sufficient.  The Deputy Chief Executive responded that such incidents need to be alerted to motorist travelling in the area as soon as possible.  However, whilst social media can be of an advantage, internet connections can be affected due to storm damage and there is a need of back up processes to be put in place.

It was RESOLVED to note the progress of the North Wales Council’s Regional Emergency Planning Service work to date.

ACTION : As noted above.