The Director of Technical Services reported that at its meeting held on 24 November 2011, the Cabinet (minute 195 refers) had requested that a review be undertaken into the recent major gas disruption that affected some 5000 homes in the Leasowe and Moreton areas during November 2011, after a water main fractured at the junction of Danger Lane and Hoylake Road causing water to pour into the gas supply network.

Representatives from National Grid and from United Utilities provided a short brief for Members from each organisations perspective. They outlined the cause of the problem and provided details of the work undertaken to ensure that the gas supply was restored in a safe manner. The Director commented also that although electric heaters were distributed freely to all affected properties, their use had created a local ‘spike’ in electricity use, which resulted in an electrical power disruption from a blown cable. However, National grid contacted Scottish Power, who deployed a team to repair the fault immediately.

The Director commented that almost all properties had gas supplies restored within 7 to 10 days and nearly all properties were entitled to emergency payments as a result of the disruption to their gas supply. He outlined the Council’s response to the incident and indicated that although the gas disruption was clearly not a Council responsibility, the general health and wellbeing of our communities and residents was. Council officers assisted National Grid in response to their requests including accommodation, press officer liaison, parking facilities, etc. National Grid had also made a request for assistance in supplying food to their engineers and had expressed gratitude to staff at the Leasowe Community Centre, who had provided catering to National Grid staff at their café.

The Director commented that although the response to the incident went well, there were a number of lessons to be learnt from it including the need for a clear role for established community groups and community representatives to assist in the humanitarian aspects of response to similar types of incidents. He also proposed that a guidance document and training should be provided to all community groups so that they would be aware of how an incident was likely to be responded to and to understand all agencies’ roles and capabilities. The Director referred also to the excellent response from local and regional media and commented specifically on the service provided by 7 Waves Local Radio who had kept residents up to dates with events.

He had also suggested that National Grid should review their emergency compensation scheme, so as to ensure that the most vulnerable received financial compensation as soon as was practicable to allay any financial worries. This was especially important when it came to feeding and heating and he referred to anecdotal information received during the review, which indicated that some of the more elderly residents affected by the gas disruption were worried to put their electric heaters on as they would not be able to afford the future fuel bills.

Resolved –

(1)  That the report be noted and the thanks of the Committee be accorded to all who assisted both in the response to the incident and in the post incident review.

(2)  That an Emergency Planning Information leaflet be prepared for all community centres and groups.