Issue - meetings

(a)       That the Committee thanks the Chief Executive and the Regional Service Manager for the presentation and is assured by the update;

(b)       That the Committee shall receive future reports on the preparedness of the Council to plan for emergencies and specific follow up reports to any major local or regional emergency events to which the Council has had to respond or exercises which have taken place; and

(c)        That a pack, comprising such material as the community risk register, suitable redacted versions of the COMAH plans and the exercise schedule for sites, be circulated to Members in due course.  

The Chief Executive introduced Mr. Neil Culff, the new Regional Service Manager, to the Committee.  He explained that information would be provided on what the service does for Flintshire and an update would also be given on the three Control of Major Accident Hazards Regulations (COMAH) sites in the county.  

                        The remit of this Committee included a role on the requirements of the Civil Contingencies Act and the Chief Executive explained that reports had previously been considered by the Committee on regional emergency planning.  The service, which had covered Flintshire and Denbighshire Councils was the only region in Wales to have a fully integrated service.  Flintshire was the lead authority and the Project Board included representatives from each of the six North Wales constituent authorities. 

                        The Regional Service Manager explained about his background before taking on this role.  On the issue of the Civil Contingencies Act, he reminded Members that the responsibility for ensuring compliance with the Act lay with each individual local authority.       

                        The Regional Service Manager provided a detailed presentation which covered the following areas:-

·         Purpose of presentation

·         Overview

·         Service Overview

·         Current work within Flintshire

·         Future activity

·         Control of Major Accident Hazards Regulations, 2015

·         COMAH – detail

·         COMAH plans

The Chief Executive commented on the internal structure referred to in the presentation and explained that tasks were allocated based on the required skills and knowledge in each area.  Councillor David Roney referred to the Warwick Chemicals site in Mostyn and commented on a high powered gas pipeline through Rhewl, which he had been unaware of until recently.  He commented on regular meetings held with Mold Councillors about the Synthite site and asked where Local Members fitted into the structure.  The Chief Executive advised that the structure shown in the presentation was for the internal Corporate Emergency Management Team.  He added that if Councillor Roney had concerns about assurance of security issues at the Warwick site, this could be raised with the relevant people to ensure that meetings such as those with Local Members near other COMAH sites could take place.  

In response to a further query from Councillor Roney about training, the Chief Executive commented on the different types of training that was carried out such as scenario planning and said that Member briefings which had been held in the past could be reconsidered; he added that a debrief on training exercises could also be provided for Members.  He spoke of reassurance and community engagement which he said was always a priority. 

            Councillor Peter Curtis commented on the importance of testing and Councillor Arnold Woolley sought clarification on the protection of utilities, particularly water supplies.  The Regional Service Manager said that Welsh Water had robust arrangements in place if the water supply became contaminated and the Local Authorities were in a position to provide support in the delivery of such supplies.  He went on to explain that statutory agencies were classed as Category 1 responders and services such as utilities were Category 2 responders and he  ...  view the full minutes text for item 98