Meeting Agenda:
Emergency Planning
| Meeting Date: | Monday 28 Mar 2022 |
|---|---|
| Time: | 19:30 |
| Councillors | Jon Aldridge Vice-Chairman, Angela Baker, Sarah Compton, Alan Damodaran, Alan Layland, Margot McArthur Chair, Stuart McGregor, Steve Taylor, Bob Todd. |
| Committee: | Emergency Planning |
| Venue: | Rickards Hall. 72a High Street Edenbridge, TN8 5AR Kent |
| Notes: | |
| Summary: |
Agenda
Minutes
Long-term volunteer Margaret Watts has regretfully resigned from the committee after many years o f support, previously available to help staff a Rest Centre if necessary. Nick Harris has also resigned, but may be able to return in future. It is proposed to co-opt Michael Gemmell Smith to the committee.
Do members support the co-option?
The budget and expenditure up-date to 23 March is attached. The figures include the annual radio licence which fell due in November. See item 7.2 for proposed expenditure from the remaining committee budget in this financial year.
| EPC Budget Mar 2022.pdf |
The annual budget for the committee was confirmed at £360 for the financial year about to commence.
During the last few months the close occurrence of storms Dudley and Eunice nationally in February was the most significant, with the committee being on “standby” to support the community if needed, and their availabilities requested. The “walkie talkie” radios were charged ready, but not needed, and office staff worked from home after mid-morning as travel became inadvisable. Power outage occurred in the northern end of Edenbridge for about 12 hours, and to the east around Hever and Four Elms for a similar period. Local trees did not cause much damage - one fell across Hartfield Road on Stick Hill, another across Mill Hill from Blossoms Park, and both were cleared promptly through Council contacts.
There are still a number of outstanding actions identified at the previous committee meeting which need to be pursued:
- Convene a multi-agency meeting including Kent Highways, District Council, Environment Agency, and Police, with the Town Council - there will be a verbal report at the meeting
- Investigate function of the Southern Water pumping station
- Investigate the possibility of adding extra gully drains in Crouch House Road - discussions are under way with Kent Highways
- Arrange a residents’ information meeting, with Environment Agency - further flooding scenario information has meanwhile been added to the Council's website
- Check the Environment Agency debris screens - an update to the locations map has been requested, to confirm existing and any new positions
Investigation of super-fast mobile phone chargers for emergency use has been carried out, also the alternative of battery packs for use in event of power outage, which could be charged in advance at the time of a storm warning, as the radios are.
It is recommended that the committee purchases both options: an Anker Power Port six-port superfast mains-charging facility, and a pack of assorted connecting cables at a combined price of £60, which could charge six devices at once; plus an Anker Power Bank, portable charger. The latter has the capability of charging three devices at once (iPhone, iPad, Galaxy, Android and other smart devices) and holds enough power to charge six “normal” devices before it needs to be re-charged itself. Current price £55 plus VAT.
There is sufficient funding in the committee’s remaining budget overall to make these purchases before the year end. Do members support the recommendation to purchase the equipment which will recharge volunteers’ mobile phones in use during an emergency response?
It is still not planned to reopen the office to members of the public for the time being, but residents can continue to access services and the sale of waste and garden bags by maintaining social distancing outside the office.
The system established by the Town Council for community support still exists, and could be re activated if necessary. A number of one-to-one support arrangements continue between residents - which grew out of the volunteering activity last year.
The collective Edenbridge Community response won an award in the Sevenoaks District Council’s Community and Voluntary Awards, presented at the awards evening in Sevenoaks earlier this month.
A verbal report will be given at the meeting.
Review of the town’s Emergency Plan is yet to take place.
A verbal report will be given at the meeting.
The Vice-chairman and Robert McKillop have carried out the first stage of checking the radio equipment, including re-programming.