Sir – Inspired by the Scottish referendum and motivated by the upcoming General Election, local authorities are seeking greater regional autonomy and regional devolution is becoming an increasingly higher priority on politicians’ agendas. However, with new opportunities on the horizon, local authorities must not forget their business continuity plans to minimise their exposure to new risks.
Business continuity management is a legal requirement for all local authorities under the Civil Contingencies Act 2004. The duty requires all local authorities to maintain plans to respond to emergencies and provide advice and assistance to businesses and voluntary organisations in relation to business continuity. It also requires them to make provisions for ensuring that their ordinary functions can be maintained.
Last month, South Oxfordshire District Council’s business continuity plans were put under serious pressure after a suspected arson attack set the council building and two other properties alight. It was essential that, at that moment in time, their business continuity plan was put into place to “make sure the effects on the most important services are kept to a minimum.”
If your premises were to suffer a fire, what emergency response planning do you have in place? Protecting the future of an organisation, whatever the size, has to be the number one priority. A crisis could happen at any time.
Mike Osborne
Head of Business Continuity, Phoenix
