I
have been having an interesting and enjoyable time visiting each of the Parish Councils in the Cosford Division. Every
meeting is in some ways like all the others, but at the same time each council
has a different atmosphere and approach.
Size does not seem to be the main criteria. The smallest councils can sometimes be very business-like,
the largest very relaxed, and this seems right since different organisations
have to find their own approach to getting things done.
Different
parishes are of course focussing on different issues. I was very impressed when
I went to my first parish council meeting at Monks Eleigh by the first class emergency plan that the council had prepared.
I was not surprised therefore to learn that the village was among ten in
the Babergh area that have received recognition for its efforts in this area.
At a
special event in Lavenham last week the council received a prize from M.P. Tim
Yeo which comprised a starter kit with all the necessary tools for an
emergency. Tim gave a speech about the
2008 Cabinet Office’s community resilience programme, which introduced
community emergency plans.
The
thing that struck me when looking at the Monks Eleigh document was that
creating a register of all the people in the community with the skills to help
in an emergency is a useful exercise in
a broader sense. Sharing this knowledge
could well make a difference, not just in a major crisis, but in other
situations where help is urgently required.
I
would urge other Parishes to think about creating a localised emergency
plan. It goes without saying that it
will be invaluable in the event of a full scale emergency.. It is also an excellent way of gathering
vital information about residents’ skills, supporting community resilience
generally, and is another way to for residents to get involved with local life.
Any
parish that is interested in putting together a local emergency plan should
contact
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