Members of the joint overview and scrutiny committee from Cumberland and Westmorland & Furness Councils are meeting to discuss emergency planning updates. The session will take place at Cumbria House in Carlisle.
The committee is expected to endorse the current emergency planning approach through the Joint Emergency Management and Resilience (JEMR) Team. This endorsement highlights the importance of cooperation among various agencies.
Funding for Emergency Planning
The report outlines the core funding for the JEMR Team for the 2025/26 period. The total funding amounts to £987,000, sourced from both councils and local grants.
Response to Recent Incidents
Over the past six months, both councils have faced several major and minor incidents. These situations provided valuable lessons that have helped refine emergency arrangements.
The councils have effectively prioritised vulnerable individuals during their responses, ensuring that essential services continued to operate.
Role of the JEMR Team
The JEMR Team is responsible for emergency planning across both councils and works closely with the Local Resilience Forum (LRF). Their duties include preparing for, responding to, and recovering from emergencies.
Location and Structure
The JEMR Team is hosted by Westmorland & Furness Council and operates from the Joint Primary Emergency Control Centre in Redhills, Penrith. An Inter Agency Agreement outlines the team’s responsibilities and deliverables.
Individual Emergency Plans
Each council maintains its own Emergency Plan, which has been updated to clarify leadership roles and responsibilities. These plans detail the arrangements for responding to major incidents.
