Relationship with normal administrative and political processes

In recovering from emergencies the normal political structures and processes that characterise and determine the way many of the RP’s partners work still apply. People affected by an emergency will look to their elected representatives for leadership and support in articulating their concerns and taking action to resolve their difficulties. Elected representatives also have a very important role in giving credible information and advice to the community.

Through their normal duties, elected members give their organisations strategic direction and decide policy. They have duties to ensure that functions are carried out effectively, efficiently, economically and legally. They will, ultimately, authorise actions affecting their organisation’s functions. Therefore, they will need accurate, up‑to‑date information to enable them to make well informed judgements.

Elected representatives may be involved with many aspects of community life through formal bodies, local charities and various community groups. They are a valuable source of local knowledge, help and specialist advice. Details of the potential role of elected representatives are provided at Annex 2.

Managers, in particular those from local authorities, will be aware of the administrative regime within which they work and should devise response and recovery arrangements that suit their authority and its structures. For example, a local authority might formalise its delegation to senior managers or make arrangements to establish a small ‘emergency committee’ to deal with the immediate and urgent needs of an emergency. It may be helpful, in preparation, to explain to elected members the nature of emergency response, recovery, communications routes and their role in supporting their communities’ recovery.