Emergency planning departments to merge

Sheffield and Rotherham Councils have agreed to merge their emergency planning departments, a move they claim will help workers "share resources, knowledge, skills and expertise".

Under the arrangement the merged team will be responsible for making sure that both areas have plans and procedures in place for dealing with an emergency that could affect large numbers of people.

Leading councillors said that by forming a long-term partnership, both authorities will spend less money on overheads, management and administration and more on preparations for an emergency situation.

Coun Richard Russell, who speaks on emergency planning on Rotherham Council, said the arrangement "makes all round sense" because of the shared risks faced by both areas.

He added: "Rotherham and Sheffield are already close neighbours who will work together at times of crisis. By working together both authorities will now have a greater resource to draw upon when incidents arise."

The 2007 floods was the major incident that sticks in the minds of most people, but both teams are frequently faced with other issues that could have serious repercussions on the general public.

Coun Paul Scriven, leader of Sheffield Council, said: "Our priority is to keep people safe. We are also committed to finding new ways of working in order to deliver the best possible performance at the lowest possible cost.

"It makes good sense for Sheffield and Rotherham, two neighbours, who face many of the same potential risks and issues, to come together to serve local people in both areas.

"In doing so, we are able to deliver genuine efficiencies as the two partners will get the benefit of the resources, staff and expertise of the other."