Mutual aid for Local Authorities
27 January 2009
Even before the serious flooding of summer 2007, it was widely acknowledged that mutual aid between local authorities in the emergency response was a resilience tool in need of greater enhancement. The lessons learned report of Sir Michael Pitt urged that developmental work to be taken forward without delay.
This short guide produced by a joint Cabinet Office-LGA-Solace working group has been designed to further that end. It seeks to state the case for the benefits of mutual aid and to encourage action by offering advice on a range of practical considerations.
During the summer the booklet went out in draft to local authorities in England and Wales for a six-week consultation. The consultation drew a range of comments from practitioners, most supporting its aims and approach which have been incorporated in this document.
Concentrating on the issue of human resource mutual aid, the document provides practical advice to overcome barriers to successful mutual aid.It also provides an appendix which includes a template agreement for local authorities to use.