Meeting Agenda:
Emergency Planning
| Meeting Date: | Monday 22 Apr 2024 |
|---|---|
| Time: | 19:30 |
| Councillors | Jon Aldridge Vice-Chairman, Angela Baker, Sarah Compton, Michael Gemmell Smith, Margot McArthur Chair, Stuart McGregor, Vince Parker, Jeff Streets. |
| Committee: | Emergency Planning |
| Venue: | Rickards Hall. 72a High Street Edenbridge, TN8 5AR Kent |
| Notes: | |
| Summary: |
Agenda
Minutes
The Chairman is usually appointed for a Council year (May to April). However, as the EPC meets once to twice yearly, proposal is to appoint a Chairman for the Council term for continuity. Assuming Committee agrees, this would need to be approved by Council at its May meeting.
To receive nominees for Chairman, and vote to confirm appointment.
To make recommendation to full Council to confirm appointment of the Chairman for the Council term, and for the Terms of Reference to be update. Do Members support this?
As with the recommendation for Chairman, the proposal is the Vice Chairman would be appointed for the term of the Council (2023-2027).
To receive nominees for Vice-Chairman, and vote to confirm appointment.
To make recommendation to full Council to confirm appointment of the Vice-Chairman for the Council term, and for the Terms of Reference to be update. Do Members support this?
The disclosure must include the nature of the interest. If an interest becomes apparent to a member during the course of a meeting that has not been disclosed under this item, the member must immediately disclose it.
Councillor members are appointed by Council at its annual meeting in May. Co-opted members are members of the community and local groups.
The Community Warden recently contacted all co-optees of the EPC. Sadly, many have stepped down. Of the original list, only six confirmed, of which three are flood warden trained. Of the Councillors, three are trained.
Co-option provides non-councillor committee members with the opportunity to speak at meetings (though not to vote on decisions) and also insurance cover during activities.
The current co-optees are:
Paul Byrne (FW); John Martin (FW); Robert McKillop, Robert Peters; Richard Rooth; Colin Thurston (FW).
Budget for 2023-24 was £345 to include the radio licences, equipment and training. Total expenditure was £143 (licence £112.50). There was no unexpected expenditure.
Finance Committee and Council has confirmed the same budget allowance for 2024-25, total £345.
SDC’S Head of Direct Services, in whose business area EP is situated, commissioned a report from Raynet to look at comms between Edenbridge and Dunbrik. There are no licensed radio amateurs at SDC so the review was focussed on the possibility of an alternative patch through system. A verbal update will be given at the meeting.
Possible forthcoming changes to the EEPC’s communication systems may result in extra licence fees, and a higher cost of installation than previously budgeted.
Do members agree to the Chairman approaching Sevenoaks District Council and Edenbridge Town Council, if necessary, to seek extra funding for this purpose?
- Multi agency meeting
Not held and not scheduled. No progress in this area is required right now.
- Pumping station function
This is now clarified and not related to the river or flooding. An update will be given at the meeting.
Are Members content to remove these two outstanding actions from future agendas?
The first step will be to include tailored information on the ETC website, and then to consider leaflet drops in the Autumn. The Council's website https://www.edenbridgetowncouncil.gov.uk/flood-advice-and-information/ has some information. To consider updating.
| ETC website Flood Advice page |
Do Members want to consider a recruitment of volunteers?
Cllr McArthur is in conversation with SDC to arrange a desk top exercise. The Committee will be advised in due course. Verbal update to be given at meeting.
Would any Committee members like to volunteer to carry this out, alongside the Community Warden, and familiarise themselves with the equipment?
Would any Committee members like to volunteer to work with the Community Warden, to review and update the current Emergency Plan?