Multi-agency Partners in London

COBR Visit - 15 October 2008

The group included representatives from Staffordshire County Council, Stoke-on-Trent City Council, East Staffs Borough Council, Stafford Borough Council, the Environment Agency, Staffordshire Fire and Rescue Service, Government Office for the West Midlands, South Staffs PCT and the Civil Contingencies Unit.

The party was greeted by key personnel from the Cabinet Office, CLG and Military who explained how COBR - sometimes chaired by the Prime Minister - coordinates government activity in a crisis and ensures an effective national response takes place

Director of Civil Contingencies Andy Marshall said,

"The visit provided an excellent opportunity for us to see first hand how COBR works and quite importantly, how Staffordshire fits into government coordination arrangements in times of an emergency."