How should London plan for emergencies?

The first report of the UK Covid-19 Inquiry has now appeared and shown how weak or non-existent were the preparations and planning for that emergency, both nationally and regionally. This seminar will discuss some of the learning from the Inquiry Report and how the UK can get better prepared for emergencies yet to come. It will also raise the issue of whether planning for emergencies should continue to be treated as a distinct policy sphere or integrated in to the normal practices of dealing with the economy, housing, benefits, greenspace, public health and so on.

The seminar invites us to consider how London and its government structures could better handle these issues, given the segregated domains of planning we have inherited. There will be a short talk with slides followed by discussion.

These seminars are designed to generate discussion among UCL staff and students, relevant policy professionals and community organisations.

This is a hybrid event.

There is no recording and Prof Pagel considers that her slides, which were prepared to support her talk, would not be clearly understood without the commentary, so they are not being made available. However there have been 3 short articles by her in the BMJ since the UK Covid-19 inquiry’s module 1 report on the resilience and preparedness of the UK which had “no hesitation in concluding that the processes, planning and policy of the civil contingency structures within the UK government and devolved administrations and civil services failed their citizens.”

https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.q1633

https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.q1847

https://www.bmj.com/content/386/bmj.q1857

On the specifics of the current pandemic the Independent SAGE now has a (free) substack to which you can subscribe: Independent SAGE continues https://independentsage.substack.com

On the London preparedness issues, Matt Hogan (GLA Resilience Unit) wrote in the chat, suggesting we read the London Risk Register (2022 version online, 2025 version coming soon) which identifies pandemic toward the top of the list of perils. London Risk Register, London City Hall. Thanks, Matt.

The Just Space community-led recovery plan for London was also referred to in the discussion. That page also has links to the London Assembly meeting about it.

Next London Planning Seminar: 5 December 1800h on aspects of LTNs and approaches to analysing their impact, with John Burke and Zeina Hawa (Sustrans). Details to follow.

Best wishes,  Michael Edwards