The Civil Contingencies Act 2004 (Contingency Planning) (Amendment) Regulations 2012

Amendment of the Civil Contingencies Act 2004 (Contingency Planning) Regulations 2005

4.  For regulation 4 substitute—

“Co-operation and local resilience forums – England and Wales.

4.— (1) Relevant general Category 1 responders must co-operate—

(a) with each other in connection with the performance of their duties under section 2(1); and

(b) with relevant general Category 2 responders in so far as such co-operation relates to or facilitates the performance of the relevant general Category 1 responder’s duties under section 2(1).

(2) Relevant general Category 2 responders must co-operate with each relevant general Category 1 responder in connection with the performance by that relevant general Category 1 responder of its duties under section 2(1).

(3) Relevant general Category 2 responders must co-operate with each other in so far as such co-operation is necessary to enable each such relevant Category 2 responder to perform its duties under paragraph (2).

(4) The co-operation referred to in paragraphs (1) to (3) shall take such form as may be agreed between the relevant responders, but must include—

(a) the provision by all relevant general Category 1 and Category 2 responders of information necessary for the performance of their functions under the Act in accordance with Part 8; and

(b) a forum of all relevant general Category 1 and Category 2 responders (referred to in these Regulations as the “local resilience forum”).

(5) Subject to paragraphs (6), (7) and (8), the arrangements for each local resilience forum shall be agreed by the relevant general Category 1 responders.

(6) Before agreeing arrangements under paragraph (5), the relevant general Category 1 responders must consult all relevant general Category 2 responders.

(7) Relevant general Category 1 responders may hold meetings of the local resilience forum and any groups and sub-groups at such times as they may agree and must—

(a) hold a meeting of the local resilience forum, to which the chief officer of each relevant general Category 1 responder and each relevant general Category 2 responder is invited, at least once every six months (“the Chief Officers Group”);

(b) in the local resilience area for London, hold a meeting in respect of each London borough and the City of London at least once every six months (“a borough resilience forum”) to which each general Category 1 responder which exercises functions in the relevant London borough or the City of London is invited.

(8) A relevant general Category 1 responder—

(a) must, so far as is reasonably practicable, attend meetings of the Chief Officers Group or be effectively represented at such meetings by another responder; and

(b) in all other cases, must consider, in relation to meetings of—

(i) the local resilience forum;

(ii) other groups or sub-groups of a local resilience forum; or

(iii) in London, a relevant borough resilience forum,

whether it is appropriate for it to attend the meeting or to be effectively represented at the meeting by another responder.

(9) A relevant general Category 2 responder—

(a) must, so far as is reasonably practicable, attend or be effectively represented by another responder at meetings of the Chief Officers Group for the local resilience area if it is invited to do so by all the relevant general Category 1 responders; and

(b) in the case of any other meetings of a local resilience forum, any groups or sub-groups, or, where the general Category 2 responder exercises functions in London, a borough resilience forum, must consider whether it is appropriate for it to attend the meeting or to be effectively represented at the meeting by another responder.

(10) For the purposes of enabling relevant general Category 2 responders to comply with paragraph (9), the relevant general Category 1 responders must—

(a) keep each relevant general Category 2 responder informed of—

(i) when meetings of the local resilience forum, any groups and sub-groups and, in London, relevant borough resilience forums, are to take place;

(ii) the location of such meetings; and

(iii) the matters which are likely to be discussed at such meetings; and

(b) enable each relevant general Category 2 responder to—

(i) attend meetings of the Chief Officers Group where it must do so; and

(ii) attend any meetings of the local resilience forum, any groups and sub-groups and, in London, relevant borough resilience forums, where the relevant general Category 2 responder wishes to do so.

(11) For the purposes of this regulation—

‘arrangements’ include the structures and administration of the local resilience forum, any groups and sub-groups and, in London, a borough resilience forum, and, subject to paragraph (7)(a), the frequency with which meetings are held;

‘chief officer’ means the chief officer or equivalent person employed by a general responder;

‘relevant general Category 1 responder’ means a general Category 1 responder which has functions which are exercisable in a particular local resilience area in England and Wales;

‘relevant general Category 2 responder’ means a general Category 2 responder which has functions which are exercisable in a particular local resilience area in England and Wales.”