Issue - meetings

to note the activities undertaken in 2024 and planned in 2025 to review, exercise and improve the Council’s Business Continuity arrangements.

The Committee had before it a report by the Executive Director of Corporate Services which provided the annual assurance on the Council’s Business Continuity arrangements that are required to comply with the requirements of a Category 1 responder under the Civil Contingencies Act 2004.

The report recommended:

that the Committee notes the activities undertaken in 2024 and planned in 2025 to review, exercise and improve the Council’s Business Continuity arrangements.

In response to a question relating to the link between the Business Continuity Group and frontline groups, the Assurance Manager advised that the Business Continuity Group had members from across the organisation and that Mr McKean co-ordinated their efforts to update and maintain their Business Continuity Plans.  She further advised that assurance is sought via the Risk Board and the directorate management teams.

In response to a question relating to the reasons for the increase of disruptive events over the last few years, the Assurance Manager advised that there had been an increase in weather related events which had seen an increase in the activation of Business Continuity Plans.   She advised that occasionally there were issues with IT Systems and that those plans were well tested and more routine in a day to day basis rather than a full scale activation.

In response to a question relating to the Business Continuity intranet pages, the Assurance Manager advised that these were updated on a regular basis to ensure services had the most up to date information.

In response to a question relating to how the Council managed the risks associated with storms, the Assurance Manager advised that the Council had learned over the last few years and that warnings were issued providing the potential impact and strength of the storm to enable preparations for such events.  She further advised that a preparatory Incident Management Team would be convened to monitor any storm warnings.

The Committee resolved:-

to approve the recommendation contained in the report.