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Emergency Response and Recovery – Consultation Draft

03 March 2009

Closing date 24 April 2009

Issue

Stakeholders are invited to comment on the revised Emergency Response and Recovery – Consultation Draft.

Background

As part of the first phase of Civil Contingencies Act Enhancement Programme (CCAEP), the non statutory guidance Emergency Response and Recovery (ERR) has been updated to reflect changes in response and recovery methodology since Version 1 of the guidance was published in autumn 2005.

This update aims to:

• reflect new recovery methodology since the guidance was first published, and to incorporate the guidelines established by the National Recovery Working Group and published in the National Recovery Guidance;
• integrate lessons identified from a range of recent emergencies, including the Buncefield explosion in 2005, the Foot and Mouth Disease and Bluetongue outbreaks in 2007, and the 2007 summer floods;
• reflect the Science and Technical Advice Cell concept, the evolving Resilient Telecommunications Strategy, and new standards in command and control in emergency response; and
• reflect new practice in multi-agency working and on-shore/off-shore interaction when responding to maritime emergencies.
• Furthermore, the update provides an opportunity to reflect changes in organisational structures and to capture good practice in relation to response and recovery. As with ERR Version 1, the updated guidance is aimed at all staff of responder agencies, and, in particular managers who may get involved in emergency response and recovery work.

Consultation Process

It is clearly critical to ensure that the revised ERR meets the needs of stakeholders. As such, CCS is looking to consult stakeholders on the draft revised guidance before it is finalised. The attached document includes a short consultation section which summarises the main text and the consultation process and highlights some key questions for consideration. We would particularly welcome comments in response to these specific questions.

• Emergency Response and Recovery – Consultation Draft [PDF]

Following the close of the consultation, CCS will work with stakeholders through the ERR Task & Finish Group to finalise the revised guidance with a view to publishing in mid June. The intention is to provide this guidance electronically on the UKResilience website as this will enable it to be updated at regular intervals.

Consultation Responses

Comments should be sent by Friday 24 April 2009 using the attached template [Word Doc] to ERRConsultation@cabinet-office.x.gsi.gov.uk