Emergency Planning Unit

The role of the Emergency Planning Unit

The Council has a small Emergency Planning Team that focuses on the response of this Authority.

Emergency plans exist for a variety of organisations. The Emergency Planning Team co-ordinates the Council’s response and prepares and writes its own plans. This work ensures that our response integrates with that of all other relevant agencies, such as the emergency services, neighbouring local authorities, the NHS, public utilities and voluntary agencies. This is achieved through routine liaison, training and exercising.

This Council has a central operations room which is suitably equipped and in the event of an incident will be staffed by trained officers. This room controls and co-ordinates the entire Council's response.

The functions of the Centre are: to collect, collate and disseminate information so that quick and informed decisions can be made; to co-ordinate the work and act as the central liaison point for the Borough Council's Service Units and other organisations assisting during the emergency; and to record and time all requests for services and resources and the actions taken in consequence.

In addition to the Controller and his support staff it is also likely that there will be liaison officers in attendance from other agencies involved, e.g. Police and Social Services. The Borough Council will send a member of staff to the scene to act as the Local Authority Liaison Officer and to be the Controller's "eyes and ears" at the scene. He or she will also advise the Police Incident Commander on the availability and deployment of Council resources to assist with the emergency and provide information to the Controller in the Emergency Centre.

In brief this Authority will:

  • Support the Emergency Services in preserving life and property.
  • Provide support and care for the community.
  • Help to minimise the effects of the incident.
  • Take the lead role on the restoration of the community and environment.

To assist in achieving this, the Council will provide:

  • Equipment and machinery (JCBs, transport, pumps, portaloos, temporary lighting etc).
  • People (specialist and manual staff).
  • Materials (aggregate, wood, fuel, weatherproofing etc).
  • Facilities (buildings for Emergency Reception Centres).
During the emergency phase in all major emergencies it should be remembered that the local authority role is never more than one of support to the full-time emergency services. However, once the emergency phase of the incident has ended it is likely that Richmond Borough Council would become the lead authority for the return to normality.

Contact the Emergency Planning Unit

If you wish to know more then please contact our Emergency Planning staff. They will be only too pleased to provide you with further information.

Emergency Planning Officer

Email: emergency.planning@richmond.gov.uk
Telephone: 08456 122 660