In deciding on a detailed definition which includes tidal reaches, consideration should be given to existing definitions, such as Normal Tidal Limits on Ordnance Survey maps and Maritime and Coastguard Agency definitions of coastal waters. A review involving organisations who respond around coastal waters may be needed before the Statutory Order is enacted, to ensure remits and responsibilities are clear for tidal waters and avoid potential issues or gaps in response within tidal reaches. Do you have any views on the proposal to limit the duty to emergencies that cause or are likely to cause people to die, be Q3. seriously injured or become seriously ill, whether by direct exposure to water or because of other damage that flooding might cause? Yes X No Supporting Comments: The current FRA policy is limited to the emergency phase of the incident. The recovery stage from an incident (especially severe flooding) is usually a multi-agency approach which Local Authorities lead on with appropriate advice from responding agencies. If the proposed Order was not limited to emergencies then FRAs would need to co-ordinate and assess a range of matters which other partner organisations already contribute to or lead on through the emergency planning and response framework underpinned by the Civil Contingencies Act 2004 (see response to Q6 below) or other supporting arrangements. It would create a statutory duty which would cut across and/or duplicate other emergency planning and response legislation. Do you think that a duty to provision’ in respect of flood and ‘make inland water rescue should mirror the approach already in place for Q4. responding to fires and road traffic collisions? Yes X No Supporting Comments: None. Do you agree that there is no need to place a duty on FRAs to respond to flooding and water rescue emergencies across FRA Q5. boundaries as set out in Article 5 of the 2007 Order? Yes X No Supporting Comments: We agree with the proposal. Local arrangements should ensure resources are shared when needed. However, we would recommend that national resilience measures include the definition for severe flooding response. This would ensure that the
In deciding on a detailed definition which includes tidal reaches, consideration should be given to existing definitions, such as Normal Tidal Limits on Ordnance Survey maps and Maritime and Coastguard Agency definitions of coastal waters. A review involving organisations who respond around coastal waters may be needed before the Statutory Order is enacted, to ensure remits and responsibilities are clear for tidal waters and avoid potential issues or gaps in response within tidal reaches. Q3. Do you have any views on the proposal to limit the duty to emergencies that cause or are likely to cause people to die, be seriously injured or become seriously ill, whether by direct exposure to water or because of other damage that flooding might cause? Yes X No Supporting Comments: The current FRA policy is limited to the emergency phase of the incident. The recovery stage from an incident (especially severe flooding) is usually a multi-agency approach which Local Authorities lead on with appropriate advice from responding agencies. If the proposed Order was not limited to emergencies then FRAs would need to co-ordinate and assess a range of matters which other partner organisations already contribute to or lead on through the emergency planning and response framework underpinned by the Civil Contingencies Act 2004 (see response to Q6 below) or other supporting arrangements. It would create a statutory duty which would cut across and/or duplicate other emergency planning and response legislation. Q4. Do you think that a duty to ‘make provision’ in respect of flood and inland water rescue should mirror the approach already in place for responding to fires and road traffic collisions? Yes X No Supporting Comments: None. Q5. Do you agree that there is no need to place a duty on FRAs to respond to flooding and water rescue emergencies across FRA boundaries as set out in Article 5 of the 2007 Order? Yes X No Supporting Comments: We agree with the proposal. Local arrangements should ensure resources are shared when needed. However, we would recommend that national resilience measures include the definition for severe flooding response. This would ensure that the
statutory-duty-on-fire-and-rescue-authorities-in-wales-to-respond-to-flood-and-water-rescue-incidents.docx