Better information for your journey
The National Traffic Control Centre collects real-time information on road conditions.
The Project Control Framework
On 1st April 2008 we launched the Project Control Framework. The Framework sets out how we, together with the Department for Transport, manage and deliver major improvement projects.
Free Traffic Information Seminars
Helping your business get its customers, drivers and goods where they should be, on time and stress-free.
Capability Assessment Toolkit 3
Introducing new and challenging indicators in the area of corporate social responsibility.
Efficiency Gains from Collaborative Roads Procurement
Delivering efficiency and best value is central
Civil Contingencies Act and the Highways Agency
March 2008
The Highways Agency has statutory duties under the Civil Contingencies Act 2004. This article will examine ongoing work being conducted by the National Resilience Team to ensure that the Highways Agency's duties under the Act are discharged.
Background
In 2004 the Civil Contingencies Act (CCA) was passed in order to plan and manage civil protection. This includes situations which threaten serious damage to human welfare, environment in the UK or war/terrorism which threatens serious damage to the national security. Under this Act statutory core duties are defined for two levels of responder. They are identified as either Category 1 or Category 2 responders.
Flooded M50 - Summer 2007
Category 1 responders are organisations at the core of emergency response and are subject to the full set of civil protection duties, e.g. Police, Fire and Rescue Service , Ambulance and Local Authorities.
Category 2 responders are “co-operating bodies” who while less likely to be involved in the heart of planning work, will be heavily involved in incidents that affect their sector. The Highways Agency is classified as Category 2 responder under the Act and subject to the compliance of statutory duties.
Recent incidents due to flooding and severe weather have illustrated the critical role the Highways Agency plays in responding to emergencies on the English strategic road network. Most recently the Traffic Officer Service was involved in the multi-agency response and evacuation, and subsequent clearing of the A66 where approximately 300 vehicles became stranded due to snowfall. The Highways Agency’s National Resilience Team has been working with Atkins to determine how the Agency can most effectively discharge its statutory and moral duties under the Act.
Stakeholder Engagement
A number of internal and external stakeholders have been engaged in this project. They include stakeholders within the Highways Agency and other fellow responders and stakeholders:
- Coventry Airport
- Network Rail
- Central Motorway Police Group
- National Grid
- West Midlands Local Resilience Forum
- The British Red Cross
- Worcestershire County Council
Discussions with various parties have provided deeper insight into the critical role of the Highways Agency in civil contingency planning and protection.
Workshop
On the 26th February 2008, internal and external stakeholders of the Highways Agency attended a workshop to assess the effectiveness of existing civil protection arrangements developed by the Highways Agency. This high-level workshop assessed whether the aims and objectives of the Highways Agency align and support the requirements of the Civil Contingencies Act 2004, and identified good practice and any gaps in current arrangements.
Howard Owen of the National Resilience Team commented “a workshop like this enables key stakeholders to meet to discuss issues that are critical to civil protection.”
Scott Hughes of Atkins commented: “The discussion has fostered a greater understanding and collaboration between the stakeholders, internally and externally.”
CCA Workshop
The workshop presented the opportunity for stakeholders to engage in discussions and understand their and other responder’s roles and responsibilities during an emergency. It was agreed that there needs to be development of a formal policy which provides a framework for the Highways Agency to effectively discharge its statutory and moral duties under the Act.
Being the provider that is responsible for the operation and stewardship of the strategic road network in England the Highways Agency plays a key role in civil protection by ensuring the continuity of services and public safety. This issue highlights the importance of a strategic framework for contingency planning.
The Future
This project will develop a policy and strategy for the Highways Agency to discharge its responsibilities under the Civil Contingencies Act 2004.
A follow up TIM Bulletin article will provide further information about the outcomes of this project in the new financial year. This will include what the strategy is and what it means to those responding to emergencies.
If you have any views on the above then please get in contact via the email address below. Has this article been worthwhile reading? Why not take a moment to send us your comments, thoughts or questions. Please e-mail
TIMbulletin@highways.gsi.gov.uk.
