Dear EPS member,

The West Midlands Branch would like to bring to your attention three events which they have arranged over the coming months:

Wednesday 25th March - Sandwell Metropolitan Borough Council HQ, Freeth Street, Oldbury. B69 3DB (arrival from 1330hrs)

Presentations by Clive Robinson, Head of Knowledge and Communications at the National Ballistics Intelligence Service and Bob Wade, Bob Wade Media Ltd.

We are pleased to invite you to a presentation by Clive Robinson, who will explain the work of the National Ballistics Intelligence Service, whose headquarters are in Birmingham. There will be an opportunity to ask questions after the presentation, which should be a fascinating insight into a little known aspect of law enforcement in this country.

This will be followed by a presentation by Bob Wade on the role of social media in emergency planning and response. Bob was formerly the head of the Central Office of Information, and the Government News Network in the West Midlands, and also worked as the Communications Manager for Coventry City Council. He will explain the tremendous opportunities that these new avenues offer for dissemination of information and also the pitfalls that can result form the sending of just one 'inappropriate' email or posting that can ruin a career in seconds.

Before the meeting we will be having lunch at 1230hrs, this will be at the JD Wetherspoons pub the 'Court of Requests' which is opposite the Council building.

A maximum of 2 CPD Points may be claimed for this session.

Friday 10th April - The Government Buildings, 5 St Philip's Place, Colmore Row, Birmingham. B3 2PW (arrival from 1000hrs)

Luana Avagliano - Head of Resilience Direct

Luana will be updating us on ResilienceDirect, a common information platform for central and local resilience. This will include information about the new mapping information that is becoming available on the system. Luana has led the project to launch ResilienceDirect which has followed the National Resilience Extranet and is far more user friendly. The Cabinet Office is keen to receive feedback and ideas from users, and potential users, and this will be an opportunity for members, as practitioners, to make their views known on this important subject to the Director of the programme.

After the meeting we will be having lunch, provisionally this will be at The Old Joint Stock, 3 Temple Row.

A maximum of 1 CPD Point may be claimed for this session.

Thursday 23rd April - Kenyon International Emergency Services, 1 The Western Centre, Western Road, Bracknell, Berkshire. RG12 1RW 

Programme starts at 1200hrs prompt, lunch as 1230hrs, followed by presentations.

We were fortunate to enjoy a presentation by Jerry Allen, the Vice President of Kenyon International Emergency Services, www.kenyoninternational.com  on 13 May last year at Warwick about the work of the company; Jerry has kindly offered the Branch places at the

company’s annual Open Day in Bracknell. There will be presentations on all aspects of the company’s operations, and an opportunity to see the equipment and resources which could be deployed in the event of a major disaster. Many local authorities and other organisations already have arrangements with Kenyon; this is an ideal opportunity to learn more about the company at first hand. There is plenty of parking available at the headquarters; Bracknell railway station is a 5 minute taxi journey away. A list of delegates, including their e-mail addresses and locations, will be circulated to those who have booked about a week befor e 23 April, to enable delegates to consider car sharing.

A maximum of 2 CPD Points may be claimed for this session.

To book your place(s) on any of the above events, please contact William Read at William.read@eaststaffsbc.gov.uk as soon as possible. Places will be allocated on a 'first come, first served' basis. All bookings will be confirmed by email, please do not attend unless you have received confirmation.

Regards

Mark Taylor

Director of Branches

Emergency Planning Society

branches.director@the-eps.org