ABOUT US
The Civil Contingencies Act (2004) and associated Regulations and Guidance provides the basis for a robust emergency planning infrastructure across the country and introduced the consistency in planning arrangements that is required to have real resilience to face the challenges ahead.
The Act lists organisations to be included in two categories. Category 1 Responders will have duties placed on them including assessing risk, put in place emergency plans and Business Continuity Management arrangements, sharing information with the public, warning, informing and advising the public during and after an emergency. They include local authorities, emergency services, NHS Bodies and the Environment Agency.
Category 2 Responders include the utilities providers - gas, electricity, water and communications, transport providers - rail, highways, airports, harbours and ports, the Health & Safety Executive, and the Strategic Health Authority, these organisations are placed under the lesser duties, mainly co-operating and sharing information with organisations in Category 1.
The principal mechanism for multi-agency co-operation under the Act is the Local Resilience Forum (LRF), based on each police area. The forum is a process by which the organisations on which the duty falls co-operate with each other. It does not have a separate legal personality, it does not have powers to direct its members.
Whilst the term LRF is a relatively new one, the operation of such a forum is not new to Cumbria. Previously known as the Cumbria Major Emergency Co-ordination Group (MECG).
The aims of the Cumbria Local Resilience Forum are as follows:
- To determine strategy and policy matters relevant to major incident/disaster planning and the management of joint training and exercising.
- To promote harmonisation of plans and procedures of the organisations that makeup the combined response.
- To provide a forum for Category 1 and Category 2 responders to consult, collaborate, disclose information and co-operate in order to review the implications of a multi-agency response to major incidents, and thus develop and enhance the working practices of those agencies.
Our efforts are largely concentrated on working together to prepare and plan for emergencies, based on our assessment and prioritisation of local risks in the Community Risk Register. The CLRF is made up of senior representatives of member agencies, such as Chief Executives or Directors from Category 1 and 2 Responders, as well as others who contribute to the work of the form. It is currently chaired by a Chief Officer from Cumbria Constabulary.
In support of the CRF is the Coordinating Group whose aim is to oversee the implementation of the strategies and policies determined at the strategic level.
Working to the Coordinating Group there are around fifteen subgroups who focus on specific areas of capability eg search and resuce, warning and informing and flooding. Their remit is to implement the CLRF’s strategies and policies, but also to report back via the Coordinating Group, on specific challenges and opportunities. Wherever possible the subgroups are aligned with the UK Capabilities Programme. Task and finish group are established as necessary to progress specific projects. The CLRF is also supported by a secretariat.
For more information on the current priorities for the CLRF please see our Strategic Plan 2010-2013
