The Emergency Planning Team

The Emergency Planning Team was formed to carry out essential internal and external support within The Network.

Its responsibilities include.

• Liaison with all User Services
• International Liaison
• Talk Through Permits and UK General Licence permits
• Support for emergencies
• Liaison with the RSGB
• Liaison with the Cabinet Office
• Liaison with Ofcom
• Writing/updating the RAYNET Manual

Team members

Trevor Groves		G4KUJ		Team Leader
Bob Bloodworth		G4VWP
Cathy Clark		G1GQJ
Ron Cowan		GM4SRL
Martin Green		G4PMG
Greg Mossop		G0DUB
Chris Sheridan		M0AZQ
David Smith		G8IDL

If you have any query or issue related to Emergency Planning, you may contact the Team, or send correspondence to:

RAYNET Emergency Planning Team
Hunters Moon
Station Road
Newton-le-Willows
BEDALE
DL8 1SX

Liaison with all User Services

Members of the Team regularly attend conferences and seminars with our User Services and Government agencies.

International Liaison

The Team have contacts with similar organisations throughout the world and keep abreast of communications issues in other countries.

Talk Through Permits and UK General PMR Licence

In conjunction with Ian Jackson G8RWH, who issues talkthrough permits on behalf of The Network, the Team advises the Committee of Management of matters which may need to be brought to the attention of Ofcom.

Support for emergencies

The EP Team have written a series of guidance documents to support RAYNET groups in the discharge of their duties. These include:

• Guidance notes for Emergency Plans
• Voice Procedure document
• Risk Assessment documentation
• Health and Safety guidelines

The team have also produced draft procedures for CW and Data message handling for comment from members,

Liaison with the RSGB

The EP Team were a major contributior to the Memorandum of Understanding between the Network and the RSGB facilitating co-operation between the two parties.

Liaison with the Cabinet Office

The remit for emergency planning is now with the Civil Contingencies Secretariat which is part of the Cabinet Office, the EP Team has regular dialogue with specialists within the Cabinet Office. As a member of the National Voluntary Sector Civil Protection Working Party the Network had the opportunity to make contributions relating to the consultation process associated with the Civil Contingencies Act (2004).

CCS facilitated a dialogue with 2(NC) Signal Brigade which has led to ongoing liason to develop working practices and exercises to prove interoperability between the services.

Liaison with Ofcom

RAYNET provided inputs to Ofcom during the last licence conditions review to raise points concerning emergency communications. A report covering special spectrum uses such as Talkthrough is produced annually.

Writing / updating the RAYNET Manual

A complete revision of the RAYNET Manual is underway and a separation of the manual into operational and administrative sections has been completed. It is hoped that the operational section of the manual will be released shortly and will be available to any Emergency Group regardless of affiliation to promote common standards of working.