Progress report May 2026: response and recovery
Published 20 May 2026
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Recommendation 42
| Recommendation number | Inquiry reference | Status | Responsibility | Accepted |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 42 | 113.67 | In progress | Government | In full |
Recommendation
That the [Civil Contingencies] Act [2004] be reviewed and consideration be given to granting a designated Secretary of State the power to carry out the functions of a Category 1 responder in its place for a limited period of time.
What we committed to doing
The Cabinet Office will review statutory interventions powers, in consultation with other government departments.
This recommendation will be complete when
-
Cabinet Office has reviewed the existing statutory powers of intervention both in the Civil Contingencies Act and in other relevant legislation.
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Cabinet Office ministers have taken a decision on ways to strengthen intervention when a Category 1 responder is failing to respond appropriately.
What we have done
Upon completion of the review of the Civil Contingencies Act 2004, we sought further legal advice regarding the scope of intervention powers provided by the Act.
Drawing on this, in collaboration with other government departments, we have evaluated the sufficiency of powers under the Civil Contingencies Act and related legislation, and identified preliminary options for strengthening these.
Responsible department
Cabinet Office
Responsible person
Roger Hargreaves, Director COBR
Recommendation 43
| Recommendation number | Inquiry reference | Status | Responsibility | Accepted |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 43 | 113.68 | In progress | Government | In principle |
Recommendation
Regulation 23 of the Civil Contingencies Act 2004 (Contingency Planning) Regulations 2005 requires a Category 1 responder to have regard when making its plans to the activities of relevant voluntary organisations. We therefore recommend that the regulation be amended to require Category 1 responders to establish and maintain partnerships with the voluntary, community and faith organisations in the areas in which they are responsible for preparing for and responding to emergencies.
What we committed to doing
We acknowledge the vital role of the voluntary, community and faith sector (VCFS) in all aspects of resilience and are committed to building stronger relationships and collaboration with these groups. However, due to the diverse nature of the sector, we propose a rapid consultation and will confirm the outcome later in 2025. We must consider if placing a statutory duty is the best means to achieve stronger engagement and what burdens any new statutory duty might have on both emergency responders and VCFS organisations themselves, especially on those small organisations embedded in communities, like those that were so critical in supporting the Grenfell community.
This recommendation will be complete when
Following open consultation, the UK government has agreed how to improve engagement between Category 1 emergency responders and the voluntary community and faith sectors (VCFS), either by changing existing regulations or through other means that are achievable for both the VCFS and emergency responders.
What we have done
The government is continuing to analyse the data and feedback gathered through the Stronger Partnerships consultation. It is exploring various options, including non-regulatory measures to strengthen partnership working and locally-led strategies that are already established or planned for future development. Work is ongoing to evaluate these options and assess their potential impacts and effectiveness in achieving meaningful improvements.
Responsible department
Cabinet Office
Responsible person
Roger Hargreaves, Director COBR
Recommendation 44
| Recommendation number | Inquiry reference | Status | Responsibility | Accepted |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 44 | 113.69 | In progress | Government | In full |
Recommendation
The current guidance on preparing for emergencies is contained in several documents, all of which are unduly long and in some respects out of date. We recommend that the guidance be revised, reduced in length and consolidated in one document which lays greater emphasis on the need for those leading the response to consider the requirements for recovery, the need to identify vulnerable people, the importance of identifying and ensuring co-operation with voluntary, community and faith groups and is consistent with the Equality Act 2010.
What we committed to doing
We will fully factor this into the outcomes of the resilience review. As a first step, we will publish the revised local responder guidance on ‘Identifying and Supporting Vulnerable People’ in spring 2025.
This recommendation will be complete when
-
Cabinet Office has published ‘Identifying and Supporting Vulnerable People’ on GOV.UK. It has published the Government Concept of Operations.
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Cabinet Office has concluded a guidance review and set out the programme for complete refresh.
What we have done
Following the completion of the guidance review we have a developed programme for refreshing the emergency management guidance. This has included setting out what guidance will be withdrawn because it has been superseded, consolidated to reduce duplication, and updated to ensure practitioners have access to the guidance they need. Alongside this, we have established a new guidance management framework to govern the systematic management of government’s resilience guidance in the future. We presented this programme of updates to Local Resilience Forum (LRF) Chairs at the LRF Chair’s Conference, with planned further engagements with local responders to ensure this plan is reflective of the priorities of the wider resilience community.
Responsible department
Cabinet Office
Responsible person
Roger Hargreaves, Director COBR
Recommendation 45
| Recommendation number | Inquiry reference | Status | Responsibility | Accepted |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 45 | 113.69 | In progress | Government | In full |
Recommendation
That regard for humanitarian considerations be expressly recognised by making it the ninth principle of effective response and recovery.
What we committed to doing
We will fully factor it into the outcomes of the resilience review.
This recommendation will be complete when
The regard for humanitarian considerations is expressly recognised as one of the core principles of effective response and recovery. This will ensure responders consider the potential impacts on individuals before, during and after an emergency.
What we have done
Government continues to work with relevant departments and local emergency planning practitioners to strengthen and embed humanitarian considerations at the national and local level. We are currently reviewing stakeholder feedback on a draft Human Aspects Standard as part of the National Resilience Standards update, to guide Local Resilience Forums on best practice and set the expectation of what ‘good’ looks like.
Responsible department
Cabinet Office
Responsible person
Roger Hargreaves, Director COBR
Recommendation 46
| Recommendation number | Inquiry reference | Status | Responsibility | Accepted |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 46 | 113.70 | In progress | Local authorities | In full |
Recommendation
Events demonstrated, however, that there is a need for a clearer understanding of the nature of the London Gold arrangements, in particular in situations in which a single borough is affected. We therefore recommend that the guidance on the operation of those arrangements be revised and that existing and newly appointed chief executives be given regular training to ensure they are familiar with its principles.
What we committed to doing
London’s resilience structures are set out under the Civil Contingencies Act 2004 and its statutory guidance, Emergency Preparedness. These require one strategic pan-London multiagency partnership as well as separate ‘Borough Resilience Forum’ partnerships for each London borough and the City of London.
The London Local Authorities Regional Resilience Board supports London local authorities in undertaking their resilience responsibilities under the Civil Contingencies Act 2004. This includes ownership of the London Gold arrangements, which the Board has been working to reform since the Grenfell Tower tragedy.
This has included updating London Gold operational procedures, publishing updated guidance for chief executives, proactive engagement from the Regional Resilience Board to local authorities on notification of an emergency incident, and development of a training programme for all London chief executives and other senior council officers on London Gold arrangements planned for delivery in 2025. A further review of London Gold procedures is planned this year to confirm they meet this Inquiry recommendation.
This recommendation will be complete when
All guidance, protocols, and procedures, underpinning the London Local Authority Gold arrangements have been reviewed and updated to support increased familiarity with how the arrangements are applied, and in particular, situations where a single borough is affected. This is then underpinned by the delivery of a credible and continuous training programme to equip chief executives to specifically perform the role of London Local Authority Gold, and which is also available to senior council officers on the Aspiring Chief Executive Programme and existing officers who already work as Council Golds.
What we have done
Authority Concept of Operations was delayed to allow reviews of specific workstreams referenced in the document to conclude.
These workstreams relate to key areas of London local authority activity and roles, including London Local Authority Gold Operating Procedures, Local Authority Liaison Officer training, Resilience Advisor guidance, and Emergency Centre Guidance. The review is now complete, the drafting of a fully rounded version has begun, and a mature draft will be shared with all London Local Authorities for consultation by July 2026.
The final version will then be published by the end of September 2026. The document will ensure that London local authorities continue to provide up-to-date information, in one place, about how they support communities and partner agencies in the response and recovery to emergencies.
Recommendation 47
| Recommendation number | Inquiry reference | Status | Responsibility | Accepted |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 47 | 113.71 | In progress | Government | In full |
Recommendation
That local resilience forums adopt national standards to ensure effective training, preparation and planning for emergencies and adopt independent auditing schemes to identify deficiencies and secure compliance.
What we committed to doing
We will refine and update the National Resilience Standards for Local Resilience Forums (LRFs) to clarify expectations on local resilience forums. Further work will be undertaken to determine appropriate levels of assurance, including the development of certification and qualifications to enable local authorities and local resilience forums to assure their training provision against a National Qualifications Framework.
We have also been building processes to better understand local resilience forums’ performance, capacity and capability, following on from the introduction of local resilience forum core capacity and capability funding in 2021. We are committed to doing more together to strengthen LRFs, including through the Stronger LRF trailblazers. We have also already introduced formal reporting to better understand local resilience forums’ preparedness, have a local capability assessment process in train, and plan to test a new peer review protocol for local resilience forums to work together to assess their planning, response and recovery activities, including training. This will help both government and local partnerships understand where their strengths and weaknesses are and drive improvements.
This recommendation will be complete when
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The Cabinet Office has revised and published the National Occupational Standards and National Resilience Standards to clarify expectations.
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MHCLG has implemented the Stronger Local Resilience Forums (LRF) trailblazer programme at all 38 LRFs in England and completed work to agree proposals for a new peer review protocol for LRFs.
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MCHLG has designed and tested a proposal for a new LRF peer review protocol.
What we have done
Cabinet Office has commenced work on updating the National Resilience Standards for Local Resilience Forums, capturing initial feedback from Local Resilience Forums and wider partners on what changes they would like introduced as part of the review. Based on the returns from this initial consultation we have started work on updating the standards, which is being undertaken in close collaboration with local responders.
A peer review model and framework have been developed in collaboration with Local Resilience Forums via a Task & Finish Group. The model will be tested with the sector in Q2 and Q3 (April to September) of 2026 and iterated, to ensure it delivers a credible system for peer review, drives continuous improvement and highlights strengths and areas of development.
Responsible department
Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government
Responsible person
Robert Arnott, Director, Resilience and Recovery
Recommendation 48
| Recommendation number | Inquiry reference | Status | Responsibility | Accepted |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 48 | 113.71 | In progress | Government | In principle |
Recommendation
That a mechanism be introduced for independently verifying the frequency and quality of training provided by local authorities and other Category 1 responders.
What we committed to doing
There are a number of regulatory and inspectorate bodies across the range of responder organisations to support them to meet their responsibilities under the Civil Contingencies Act. We recognise there is more we should do to improve consistency of training and in setting clear expectations. We have therefore commissioned the independent Sector Skills Council to undertake a review of the National Occupational Standards. These new Standards will set out the knowledge and skills that people need to be competent in their resilience roles and will improve the quality and availability of training. The UK Resilience Academy (UKRA), to be launched in April 2025, will provide a training curriculum based on these standards. We will set the expectation on the type and frequency of training in the National Resilience Standards for local resilience forums mentioned in recommendation 47.
As well as this, in respect of local authority Category 1 responders specifically, the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) will work with local partners to scope a process for local authorities to report on training and development.
This recommendation will be complete when
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The National Occupational Standards have been reviewed and published.
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The UK Resilience Academy has been launched in April 2025
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There are clear expectations on the type and frequency of training in the National Resilience Standards for local resilience forums.
-
MHCLG has scoped a process for local authorities to report on the quality and frequency of training and development.
What we have done
MHCLG will work with the Local Government Association and UK Resilience Academy to reflect clarified expectations for local authority training in the refresh of the 2018 Local Authorities’ Chief Executive Resilience Guidance, including proportionate reporting expectations. Cabinet Office has commenced the refresh of the National Resilience Standards for Local Resilience Forums (as set out in the progress update for recommendation 47); as part of this work, we will align the standards with the updated National Occupational Standards for Resilience and Emergencies and set clear expectations on the type and minimum frequency of training for all member and supporting organisations. Proposals will be tested with the sector.
Responsible department
Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government
Responsible person
Robert Arnott, Director, Resilience and Recovery
Recommendation 49
| Recommendation number | Inquiry reference | Status | Responsibility | Accepted |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 49 | 113.73 | In progress | Local authorities | In full |
Recommendation
That local authorities train all their employees, including chief executives, to regard resilience as an integral part of their responsibilities.
What we committed to doing
We expect all relevant staff to be provided with the necessary training. Local authorities should be empowered to determine which of their staff should undertake training in a way that is proportionate and tailored to their local needs. The National Occupational Standards noted in recommendation 35 will help with this determination.
The Local Government Association and Society of Local Authority Chief Executives and Senior Managers (SOLACE) offer a wide range of training for chief executives, including some available through the Emergency Planning College.
The UK Resilience Academy, to launch in April 2025, and the Local Government Association also intend to offer a training programme on resilience prevention, preparedness and response for local authority chief executives and senior managers.
This recommendation will be complete when
MHCLG, the UK Resilience Academy (UKRA), the Local Government Association (LGA) and Society of Local Authority Chief Executives and Senior Managers (SOLACE) have piloted a resilience training offer for local authority chief executives and all relevant staff, established metrics for completion, and have set out a potential offer for all local authorities to access on training, based on learning from these pilots.
What we have done
The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government has launched the pilot resilience training offer for local government. The first in-person Local Government Chief Executives session was delivered on 26 March, covering the value local government brings to emergency response and recovery, legal duties, and expectations and best practice, supported by video-based learning. Initial feedback from participants and delivery partners has been positive. A full review of the pilot is now underway, led by the Local Government Association and supported by UK Resilience Academy, to finalise the ongoing offer. Next steps will be delivered in two parts: (1) a rolling programme of further Chief Executive sessions, expected to commence from September 2026 and run over the next three years; and (2) a wider e-learning offer for the sector, building on the pilot content.
Recommendations 50, 51, 52, 53, 54 and 55
| Recommendation number | Inquiry reference | Status | Responsibility | Accepted |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 50 | 113.74 | In progress | Local authorities | In full |
| 51 | 113.75 | Complete | Local authorities | In full |
| 52 | 113.76 | Complete | Local authorities | In full |
| 53 | 113.76 | Complete | Local authorities | In full |
| 54 | 113.77 | Complete | Local authorities | In full |
| 55 | 113.78 | Complete | Local authorities | In full |
Recommendations
50: Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea (RBKC) had no effective means of collecting and recording information about those who had been displaced from the tower and surrounding buildings, including those who were missing. Compiling reliable information of that kind is difficult and the challenges likely to be faced by local authority Category 1 responders will vary according to the nature of the emergency. We recommend that all local authorities devise methods of obtaining and recording information of that kind, if possible in electronic form, and practise putting them into operation under a variety of different circumstances.
51: That all local authorities make such arrangements as are reasonably practicable for enabling them to place people in temporary accommodation at short notice and in ways that meet their personal, religious and cultural requirements. Such arrangements should, as far as possible, involve local providers of social housing.
52: That all local authorities include in their contingency plans arrangements for providing immediate financial assistance to people affected by an emergency.
53: That as part of their planning for emergencies local authorities give detailed consideration to the availability of key workers and the role they are expected to play so that suitable contingency arrangements can be made to ensure, as far as possible, continuity of support.
54: That as part of their emergency planning local authorities make effective arrangements for continuing communication with those who need assistance using the most suitable technology and a range of languages appropriate to the area.
55: That all local authorities include in their plans for responding to emergencies arrangements for providing information to the public by whatever combination of modern methods of communication are likely to be most effective for the areas for which they are responsible.
What we committed to doing
50: This responsibility will be highlighted in guidance that clarifies key duties on local authorities. We note that the ability and requirement to do this will be determined by the emergency, circumstances and the needs of people affected by the incident.
51: Local authorities already have a legal obligation under the Housing Act 1996 to re-house people displaced by an emergency. This duty will be highlighted in guidance that clarifies key duties on local authorities.
52: Local authorities understand their local areas and contingency plans best, but government is committed to working with local authorities and the Local Government Association to understand how plans for financial support might best be integrated into local authority contingency plans and, where appropriate, help determine what kind of financial support might be suitable.
53: MHCLG is committed to working with the Department for Health and Social Care, the Department for Education and the Local Government Association to ensure that keyworker social work guidance is shared with the sector and that training is signposted.
54: Local authorities already have a legal obligation through their duties under the Civil Contingencies Act 2004. This duty will be highlighted in guidance that clarifies key duties on local authorities.
55: Local authorities already have a legal obligation through their duties under the Civil Contingencies Act 2004. This duty will be highlighted in guidance that clarifies key duties on local authorities.
These recommendations will be complete when
50: MHCLG has identified and implemented the appropriate way to highlight key duties on local authorities within this guidance.
51 to 55: MHCLG has identified the appropriate way to highlight this in guidance that clarifies key duties on local authorities.
What we have done
The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) is using the refresh of the 2018 Local Authorities’ Chief Executive Resilience Guidance to address recommendations 50‑55 by reinforcing and clarifying local authorities’ key duties and incorporating relevant Grenfell recommendations (including financial support for affected residents, the role of social workers, and provision of information to victims and survivors). MHCLG and the Local Government Association (LGA) are planning delivery of the guidance review, with the first working group with delivery partners on 1 April and publication targeted by August 2026.
The refreshed guidance will include best practice on how financial support could be considered within local authority contingency plans; MHCLG will continue to engage with the LGA on this.
Additionally, MHCLG is working with the LGA, Department of Health and Social Care and Department for Education to disseminate existing guidance and best practice on the role of social workers in disasters across the resilience, local authority and social work sectors, including consolidating resources on resilience.gov.uk and signposting through communications by August 2026.
In accordance with the update above, we can now close recommendations 51, 52, 53, 54 and 55, as we have met the completion criteria by identifying the refreshed local authority guidance as the appropriate way to highlight and clarify the key duties set out in these recommendations.