Transcript LOCAL AUTHORITY EMAS

NI188 Review of LCLIP and
Risk Registers to identify Risks
and Opportunities Relevant to
the Local Area Agreement.
The Brief
Step 1:
How the civil contingency RR identifies potential risks
which can be connected to climate change impacts.
Explore other potential references to climate change
impact
Step 2:
Examine LCLIP, SW Climate Change Action Plan etc for
any references that might require an input into the
CCRR
The Brief
Step 3:
Explore relevant references in LAAs, involving
Gloucestershire authorities, which refer to climate
change and link these to civil contingencies. Check on
the national register of LAAs (IDeA) to see whether such
a connection has been made elsewhere
Step 4:
Review adopted planning docs to see which connections
are being made between planning decisions and future
potential liabilities arising from CC
The Brief
Step 5:
Review of progress of local authorities against NI188
Level 0, 1 and 2
Step 6:
Circulate and include comments from key personnel at
Stroud DC and Gloucestershire CC
Findings - Summary
• CC only gradually permeating local govt. processes and
procedures
• Legislation for the Civil Contingency Registers does not
refer to climate change but strong references to matters
that could result as a consequence
• Planning – RSS making strong references, but local
planning documents with some notable exceptions,
predominantly silent on the issue
• Plenty of scope to develop leading edge practice.
Step 1 - Findings
• Civil Contingency Risk Register – Identifies risks
that can be connected to CC. Mainly due to extreme
weather impact on infrastructure – risk likely to
increase.
• Civil Contingency Act 2004 - Neither the statutory
nor the non statutory guidance makes any explicit
reference to climate change impacts
Step 2 - Findings
From SWCCAP – ID activities and challenges that
could provide input into Community Risk Register
• risk associated with lack of strategic knowledge and
planning regarding to cc mitigation & adaptation;
• an improved response to flood risk;
• risk related to geographical areas vulnerable to intense
rainfall events;
• a response to technical failure of the electricity supply
such as a viable micro-generation infrastructure;
Step 2 - Findings
Reviewing the LCLIP outputs CRR – issues
• The impact of climate change cumulative ‘creep’
• Dealing with essential local services in severe weather
• Ensuring links to Council’s Business Continuity Planning
and risk management processes
• Future proofing of services and the development /
spatial planning process
Step 3- Findings
• None of the 14 case studies on the IDeA website (and
highlighted in a search on NI188) made any explicit
reference to these issues with the exception of the
Gloucestershire LAA.
Step 4 - Findings
• The RSS contains a range of references related to
climate change
• LDF’s are emerging, with a substantial component of the
frameworks made up of saved local plan policies, many
of which date back 10 years and more.
• Would expect core strategies once they are complete to
deal with this matter at some length
Step 4 - Findings
Issues arising from review of planning documents
• Growth in the region will be channelled substantially
into Strategic Significant Cities and Towns – should they
be a focus for climate resilience action?
• Infrastructure provision needs to be linked to climate
change issues (not just energy, water, waste)
• Is there a stronger linkage to design policy, than the
often quoted SUDs?
Step 4 - Findings
• How does the planning system deal with the slow
increase in climate change impacts? At what stage is
infrastructure moved and housing displaced. The
Tewkesbury approach to provide a margin for future
development threatened by flooding might be an
example to work from.
• Plans focus on the flooding and drainage aspect of
climate change impacts rather than the potentially
hotter weather, with periods of drought, heat island
effects in urban areas.
Step 5 - Findings
• All partners making returns have commenced work
towards Level 0, and many of the partners are already
meeting the majority of level 1
• However, work is needed on communicating
vulnerabilities and opportunities to departmental/
service heads as well as Directors and Members
• There is a good opportunity to more effectively share
information
Step 5 - Findings
• Recommendation 1. All respondents have identified a
lead officer – It may be helpful to identify Senior
Management and Political responsibility as well.
• Recommendation 2. Common knowledge – Common
Resources. It is recommended that existing registers of
supporting documentation already produced by some
partners are made available to those partners that have
not presently compiled such a register.
Step 5 - Findings
• Recommendation 3. All partners to sign the
Nottingham Declaration, if not already done so
• Recommendation 4. Member and senior management
training provided through the LAA to ensure effective
awareness of climate change strategy commitment and
the developing adaptation programme
• Recommendation 5. Service head training programme
is provided through the LAA to partners to ensure
managers are aware of the vulnerabilities and
opportunities identified through the LClip process