31 October 2003
Councils need an extra £17m if they are to fulfil emergency planning requirements and meet heightened public expectations in the wake of the September 11 attacks, the Local Government Association has warned.
An LGA survey found that district councils spend a total of £4m a year on emergency planning, although they receive no central government funding for this.
Top-tier authorities do receive an annual civil defence grant, worth £19m, but overspend this by £13m, according to an earlier survey.
Ann Stribley, chair of the LGA's public protection executive, said: 'The proposed Civil Contingencies Bill would place a number of new duties on all local authorities. While the LGA welcomes the fact that, for the first time, emergency planning will be placed on a statutory basis, it is essential that local authorities are given adequate funds to carry out these new duties.'
The LGA is urging ministers to set a new baseline figure of £36m for vital emergency protection work.
PFoct2003
