Agenda item

Deep Dive Risk Reviews

Reports of the Town Clerk.

Minutes:

a)    CR01 – Resilience

Members received a report of the Town Clerk in respect of the City of London Corporation’s preparedness for events or situations related to terrorism or other major incidents. 

 

In respect of the fire at Wanstead Flats the previous weekend, Members noted that the City Corporation had overseen an exercise there 18 months ago and found the officers to be well prepared.  Engagement with the surrounding local authorities had been part of this exercise.   Officers recognised that some of the surrounding Councils were not London Boroughs and this had been taken into consideration.

 

Members suggested that it might be timely to consider interim measures such as preventing smoking in open spaces during the dry conditions.

 

As part of the post-mortem, the Assistant Town Clerk would be investigating the strength of immediate communications.  Whilst there is not a 24-hour City Corporation Press Office, 24-hour Resilience Officers are on call.  Members noted a new protocol with the Communications Team, which will enable the Resilience Team to issue an immediate response, pending a full news story.  This was particularly welcomed by Members who work closely with community groups. 

 

There was some discussion about BCP in terms of both physical and IT resilience and a recognition that IT resilience was improving.  The Assistant Town Clerk agreed to review the impact score, given the strong mitigations in place and to include a  narrative explaining both aspects of BCP. 

 

Members noted that there were generic response plans to cope with all manner of  disruptions, from terrorism to fire, based on national models for decision making.  Members noted that the exercise programme would be ramped up locally, with newly trained strategic leads in place. 

 

The Assistant Town Clerk agreed to discuss the possibility of a live BCP test with IT colleagues and to consider the possibility of a pool of essential staff who would be required to carry laptops at all times.  Members noted that the City Corporation had a designated location in the event of Guildhall becoming inaccessible.

 

Finally, Members suggested that where mitigation would not make any further improvements, the judgements should be defended explicitly.

 

RESOLVED, that – the report be noted.

 

b)    CR24 - Operational Security 

 

RESOLVED – That, under Section 100A(4) of the Local Government Act 1972, the public be excluded from the meeting for the following items on the grounds that they involve the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in Paragraph 5, Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act.

 

Members received a report of the Town Clerk in respect of the security infrastructure across the City Corporation, which sought to ensure that the security culture within the organisation is robust to evolving threats.

 

Members noted that, following the recent novichok poisonings in Salisbury, intelligence concerns and a national police review of police and military preparedness, there had been a national uplift in counter terrorism resilience in this area. There is ongoing national training, for Police and Military, with scientific support.   The internet provides capability and instructions of low level availability.  However, Members noted that the risk of self-harm from sourcing such products is very high and the number of successful attacks will proportionately be low.  Officers accepted that the proposed joint control room might give rise to BCP challenges but there is a live fall-back position and the Police have many other back up sites. 

 

The Town Clerk asked for Member support in challenging behaviours in the City Corporation’s buildings; i.e. ensuring that security passes are worn at all times and to be mindful of holding security doors open.

 

RESOLVED, that – the report be noted.