Annex 2 – The role of elected representatives in recovery

Throughout the emergency, elected representatives will need to be aware of the impacts on the community and their normal role in the effective management of service provision. Their role will have an increased salience as:

• a focus for community concerns
• the public face of their organisation at the local level
• identifying problems and vulnerabilities of their community that may require priority attention and feeding them back to the relevant recovery group
• explaining the reasons for decisions taken in dealing with recovery
• a knowledge of local personalities and resources
• encouragement and support to recovery teams working within their community
• enhancing local community liaison and engagement
• visiting people affected to be a listening ear and to give them reassurance
• considering, at an early stage, recommendations from the RP on the strategic choice between ‘normalisation’ and ‘regeneration’ of the affected area
• assisting with public communications in close liaison with the public communications group
• assisting with VIP visits
• liaising with other elected representatives (MPs, MEPs, other local authorities’ representatives, etc.)
• assisting (and possibly chairing) debrief sessions with the community
• revising business plans and strategies to take account of changed circumstances

There may also be occasions where the standing of an elected representative in the community leads to them being asked to assume responsibilities that lie beyond their formal role, for example, being formally involved with the management of trust funds.