Agenda item

To present the NWC-REPS annual report for 2024/25.

The North Wales Councils’ Regional Emergency Planning Service Annual Report for 2024/2025 was presented for the Committee’s consideration.

The Leader of the Council and Portfolio Member for Economic Development said that the Annual Report provides an overview of the service’s activity during 2023/24. The Council has emergency planning and response duties under the relevant legislation and regulations and is a principal responder. The Council meets its obligations by collaborating with the North Wales Local Authorities through the North Wales Councils Regional Emergency Planning Service.  The report summarises both regional activity during the year regarding incident management and emergency response as well as activity within the six North Wales Local Authorities individually. He noted that this Annual Report includes considerable details of the work undertaken and the purpose of the Regional Emergency Planning Service.

The Regional Manager for the North Wales Councils Regional Emergency Planning Service said that considerable work has been undertaken by the Service due to increase in storms and weather warnings that have occurred and especially Storm Darragh and recently Storm Amy.  She noted that significant work has also been undertaken by the Service with the Charter for the Bereaved.  The Regional Emergency Planning Service have been an integral part of the Menai Task and Finish Group focusing on the simultaneous closure of the bridges.  She expressed that the Service is primarily established to reduced duplication across North Wales and ensured the availability of increased resources for the local authorities.

In scrutinising the Annual Report, the following matters were discussed by the committee:-

·         Reference was made to the concerns as regards to the sudden closure of the Menai Suspension Bridge recently.  It was expressed that it is evident that Welsh Government is not listening to the concerns of the local community as the bridge closed without warning recently which cause considerable delays; concerns were also expressed that if the Britannia Bridge was also needed to be closed this could cause considerable distribution on the Island to the Emergency Services taking patients to Ysbyty Gwynedd and children and young people in schools and colleges.  Concerns were also expressed that the businesses in Menai Bridge are extremely affected by closure of the Suspension Bridge with people avoiding the area.   Questions were raised as to whether there is an update as to the timeframe for finishing the work on the Menai Suspension Bridge. 

The Leader of the Council and Portfolio Member for Economic Development responded that the Regional Emergency Planning Service is not responsible for the closure of the Menai Suspension Bridge nor the lack of maintenance of the bridge.  He reminded the Committee that the Regional Emergency Planning Service responsibility is to plan and manage the situation when both bridges are closed due to storms and weather warnings.  He referred to a recent storm when the situation arose for the potential need to close Britannia Bridge and the restrictions on the Menai Suspension Bridge.  The responsibility of the Regional Emergency Service is to put in place an Action Plan to address the situation in collaboration with the Local Resilience Forum and the Emergency Services and other organisations to ensure that the Plan addresses the needs and concerns of the residents of the Island. 

The Chief Executive said that the Regional Emergency Planning Services’ role is to collaborate with partners, respond to issues and impacts and ensure effective community information with residents to ensure that people lives are not in danger.  He noted that considerable work has been undertaken with the Authority and the Regional Emergency Planning Service to produce a Draft Action Plan which will be considered by the Local Resilience Forum next month.  He noted that the Menai Suspension Bridge is the asset and responsibility of Welsh Government. He expressed that the matter relating to the sudden closure and part opening thereafter of the Menai Suspension Bridge was a matter for discussion at the Extraordinary Meeting of the Isle of Anglesey Council that has been arranged on 28 October, 2025. 

·       Reference was made to the closure of Holyhead Port from the 7 December, 2024 to 15 January, 2025 due to the damage caused by Storm Darragh.  Questions were raised whether negotiations occurred with the Irish Government with regard to the effect of the ferries unable to cross the Irish Sea from Holyhead. 

The Leader responded that discussions were taken place with Irish Ministers and Officers together with Stena and Irish Ferries and several other multi-agency organisations due to the closure of the Port in Holyhead.  He expressed that he did not consider that the matter was relevant to this Annual Report.

·             Reference was made that this Committee needs to undertake work and training on the Equalities Act as it seems that during emergency situations there seems to be differentiate equality process.

The Chief Executive responded that there is a difference when dealing with people during an emergency.  He expressed that there are a number of vulnerable people living on the Island and are depended on the Council services and volunteers in an emergency.   He said that the aim of the Authority and the Regional Emergency Planning Service is to make sure that when an emergency occurs that people are safe and are afforded support when needed. 

·               Questions were raised regarding the resilience of the cyber security of the Council.

The Chief Executive responded that cyber security attacks is one of the main risks faced daily by the Authority and two Officers deal with cyber security in the Council to ensure that the correct software is in place and to ensure that the required training for staff is in place.  The Authority is working towards conforming with the Cyber Assessment Framework presented by Welsh Government.

Having scrutinised the update report and having regard to the Officer response to the matters raised, the Corporate Scrutiny Committee resolved to note the progress of the North Wales Councils Regional Emergency Planning Service work in 2024/25.