Liberal Democrats Call To Protect Emergency Planning

5.20.56pm BST (GMT +0100) Tue 24th Oct 2006

It is critically important that the County is properly prepared and organised to respond to emergencies quickly and appropriately

Liberal Democrats on Surrey County Council have called on the County to protect the Emergency Planning service which is in deep trouble following resignations and departures that will see almost the entire team lost by the end of the year.

Leader of the Liberal Democrats, Councillor Hazel Watson said: "The loss of 8 out of 9 members of the team in just a matter of months follows the huge Business Delivery Review which has already done so much damage to highways and other frontline services. The consequences are potentially serious because it leaves a gap in the professional expertise to plan and to act to protect Surrey residents if an emergency incident takes place."

The Liberal Democrat leader added: "It is regrettable that one of the consequences of the Business Delivery Review is the loss of the County's highly valued Emergency Planning service. Action is needed now to address this serious loss. I am therefore calling on the County Council to act quickly to recruit a replacement Emergency Planning team. It is critically important that the County is properly prepared and organised to respond to emergencies quickly and appropriately. Given the loss of the County team, Surrey may not be able to do so.

The Council must also address the issues that resulted in the team's departure. This highly professional team has felt downgraded and has chosen to vote with its feet. The fact that they have all found alternative posts so quickly reflects the quality of the team Surrey has lost."