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Working together in developing the future
Last year saw the first in a series of BAPCO one-day seminars take to the road.Addressing the CCA requirements,cost effective new technology and exploring how an effective and trusting partnership between all CCA responders could be achieved.
The message was clear,and with 316 delegates in total attending the 3 seminars BAPCO has become recognised as the main "non-partisan" organisation,which could speak to and for all responders.
What was significant about the seminars,aside from the content,was that BAPCO gained a significant number of new members particularly from local authority and NHS organisations.
It resulted in comments from a number of attendees recognising that they could,working together,affect the way the future implementation of CCA was realised.
This point was eloquently addressed by Michael Charlton-Weedy of the Cabinet Office(Emergency Planning College)who clearly stated that,"You can have an effect if you all work together as BAPCO" - a point that was taken on board by attendees.
To which end,BAPCO received comments from delegates ranging from: "It was great" "Don't change things next time" "More of the same please" As an organisation bring pressure to bear on government"
All of the speakers were informative with excellent points being raised at the panel session debate,which concluded each seminar. In fact,throughout each road show the core emphasis appeared to highlight from all attending that interoperabiity was the way forward and members had been urged to ask the question, "How will it affect my neighbours and other emergency services?" when issuing statements of requirements.
In addition,during the seminar,Charlton-Weedy,who had been particularly forthright issued a direct challenge to BAPCO to provide a ‘bottom up’ drive to influence how things develop in the public safety environment in the future.
He considered that technology was the facilitator that enabled delivery of the requirements of the CCA and whilst the Cabinet Office can provide direction from the ‘top down’ more could be achieved if BAPCO worked with them to provide the drive from the bottom.He confirmed to members of the committee of BAPCO that if this challenge were to be accepted he would promote the association on every conceivable occasion.Steps are now being taken to ensure that correct member consultation processes are in place in order to accept the challenge.
All in all the events proved to be extremely thought provoking and educational for all attendees.
Next month we take a closer look at Michael Charlton-Weedy’s presentation.
