Dorset faces staffing challenges during flood emergencies
Scrutiny committee hears of potential volunteer involvement and role flexibility for council staff
Council staff in Dorset were overwhelmed by demands during the floods in January and February, according to a scrutiny committee meeting.
The council's resources and staffing levels, while considered adequate during normal times, quickly became stretched when faced with emergencies.
Future plans may include deploying volunteers and encouraging staff to train for flexible roles, committee members heard.
Senior officer Jonathan Mair reflected on the adaptability shown by staff during the Covid pandemic.
"We stood people up into very different roles than they were used to. Perhaps going forwards we should be more prepared to do that," Mair said.
Marc Eyre, service manager for assurance, noted that limited rest centres were necessary during the flooding but warned multiple centres could have escalated to an overwhelming situation.
The discussion followed a Beaminster councillor, Craig Monks, querying whether Dorset Council is adequately equipped for emergencies.
Cllr Shane Bartlett, former emergency planning officer, expressed concerns over the strain of multiple prolonged emergencies, but welcomed the idea of mobilising volunteers to support emergency response efforts swiftly.
Concerns also arose regarding the scarcity of accessible rest centres in rural areas for possible evacuations.