Purpose

Following the publication of the Grenfell
Phase II Report, Sean Ruth was commissioned to undertake an
assurance assessment of the council's emergency preparedness. Sean
Ruth published his findings with a series of recommendations aimed
to enhance the borough's resilience against the growing risks posed
by climate change and increasing global instability.
All recommendations made were endorsed by the Corporate Resilience
Group and report approved for implementation by the Corporate
Leadership Team in August 2025.
Report has been brought forward for Members to note and consider
how the organisation is learning from Grenfell.

Content

RESOLVED:
 
3.1  That Cabinet
approves the implementation of Sean Ruth's
Recommendation 9: ‘Introduce a structured reporting process
for elected
Members; this should include annual reporting on resilience matters
to
enable the appropriate Committee to scrutinise the emergency
preparedness, response and recovery arrangements. The assurance
arrangements should be scrutinised and this should include that the
learning of lessons from incidents and exercises are identified and
implemented.’

3.1.1 
Context to recommendation 9 is detailed within Appendix
1.

3.1.2  Action
required:

3.1.3  Members are to agree to review Resilience
Standards for London annual
return each January, via the appropriate Members assurance
mechanism.

3.2  That Cabinet
approves the implementation of Sean Ruth’s Recommendation 10:
‘In line with national and pan-London guidance, provide essential emergency
planning and resilience input to elected Members through their
induction and training programme; this will build on previous
training that has been undertaken by elected Members. All elected
Members should attend this training, which should be supplemented
by the circulation of the Civil Resilience Handbook for Councillors
in London Local Authorities produced by London
Councils.’

3.2.1 
Context to recommendation 10 is detailed within Appendix
1.

3.2.2  Action
required:

3.2.3 
Members are to note the recommendation to circulate the
Resilience
 
Handbook for Councillors to all Members.

3.2.4  Members to note the requirement to agree to
a set resilience training
programme per electoral term, requiring the attendance of all
Members.

3.3  That Cabinet notes
and acknowledges the Sean Ruth Emergency
Planning Review 2025, with the recommendations made within.