The primary aims of emergency planning are:
To provide a comprehensive and effective resilience and emergency planning service to the four local authorities’.
To achieve an effective response to all major incidents and emergency situations regardless of their cause.
To ensure emergency response plans are produced, reviewed, tested and exercised.
To ensure the local authorities’ meet their statutory obligations and duties under primary legislation, including:
-The Civil Contingencies Act 2004;
- The Civil Contingencies Act 2004 (Contingency Planning) Regulations 2005;
- The Control of Major Accident Hazard Regulations 2015
- The Pipelines Safety Regulations 1996
- The Radiation (Emergency Preparedness & Public Information) Regulations 2019
In the local authority areas of Hartlepool, Middlesbrough, Stockton on Tees and Redcar & Cleveland this function is undertaken by the Cleveland Emergency Planning Unit. Hartlepool Borough Council is the nominated lead authority for the Cleveland Emergency Planning Unit which is classed as an outside body.
Oversight is provided by the Emergency Planning Joint Committee (EPJC), comprising of representatives from each of the local authorities. The EPJC meets on a quarterly basis, papers are available from the following link: https://www.hartlepool.gov.uk/meetings/committee/30/emergency_planning_joint_committee