ADD2633 Multi Agency Gold Incident Command (MAGIC) Training

1.1 The GLA is purchasing an additional course of the ‘Multi Agency Gold Incident Command (MAGIC)’ training from the College of Policing. This training is for Gold responders to perform the role of strategic civil contingencies commander.

1.2 The College of Policing provides Multi Agency Gold Incident Command (MAGIC) training to London agencies via the London Resilience Group (LRG). The training is for individuals representing their organisations at the Strategic or Gold level response. It is directed at organisations that are listed as Category 1 and 2 responders in the Civil Contingencies Act (CCA) 2004. This includes Met Police, London Fire Brigade, London Ambulance Service and the GLA. The LRG delivers services in relation to emergency planning in London on behalf of the GLA, London's Local Authorities and the London Fire Commissioner.

1.3 LRG is at the heart of multi-agency emergency planning and large scale incident response in London. The Mayor and the GLA (with the London Fire Brigade and London local authorities) co-fund the LRG, which supports the work of the London Resilience Partnership (LRP). The LRP brings together over 200 organisations, each of whom has specific responsibilities for preparing for, and responding to, emergencies.

1.4 This decision is for an additional course to the regular number of courses London Resilience Group organises on behalf of the London Resilience Partnership. The MAGIC training provision is governed by the London Resilience Forum chaired by the Deputy Mayor for Fire & Resilience. The LRF has already approved the training programme including the delivery of these courses for 2022-23.

1.5 As the MAGIC training is multiagency, this also benefits our partner agencies who also seek spaces on this training course for their Gold commanders.

1.6 Expenditure of £33,465 is being sought for a full (three day) MAGIC training hosted at City Hall in January 2023 with delegates from Metropolitan Police Service, London Fire Brigade, Environment Agency, London local authorities, and Transport for London.

1.7 MAGIC training provided by the College of Policing is a requirement for any individual representing a blue-light services as a Gold commander. The course facilitators are chief officers (or former chief officers) from emergency services (fire, police and ambulance). 

1.8 MAGIC provides a foundation for delegates to perform the role of strategic civil contingencies command, continue multi-agency training with their specific local resilience forum and to meet the requirements of the Civil Contingencies Act (CCA) 2004, by sharing and exercising local plans.

2.1 MAGIC will assist delegates in developing their performance by providing an opportunity for them to be able to:

i. define the roles and responsibilities of different agencies during a major incident or civil emergency

ii. take strategic 'gold' command of a major incident or civil emergency

iii. plan, implement and review civil contingency plans and multi-agency communication strategies

vi. understand the legal framework of a civil emergency.

Exemption from the Contracts and Funding Code

2.2 Decision 2 of this decision form seeks an exemption from the requirement to procure competitively under Section 10 of the GLA’s Contracts and Funding Code (“the Code”) on the basis of the service provider’s involvement in a specific current project.  To that end, the Multi Agency Gold Incident Command (MAGIC)’ training course is due to take place on the 10 to the 12 of May 2023 as an additional session to a pre-existing, regular course, which the College of Policing delivers via the LRG to the relevant agencies in London, including the GLA, but also London Fire Brigade, Met Police, London Ambulance Service, on a biyearly basis. 

2.3 The purpose of this ‘additional’ course is to bring more people up to the standard that exists for Gold responders. The standard training in London for Gold responders has been the College of Policing’s MAGIC courses, and as the purposes of this specific additional training is to bring others to the same standard as those who are already fulfilling the role of Golds across London, the training needs to be the same as previous, the College of Policing’s MAGIC training. This is multiagency training and without the offer being for training of the standard expected training i.e., College of Policing MAGIC training, the other agencies would have no reason to attend.

2.4 The proposed MAGIC course on 10-12 May 2023 is an additional session to the existing series of MAGIC courses agreed between the College of Policing and London Resilience.  London Resilience has been procuring College of Policing to deliver these courses for a number of years (at least since 2016).  The MAGIC training provision is governed by the London Resilience Forum chaired by the Deputy Mayor for Fire & Resilience.  The LRF has already approved the training programme including the delivery of these courses for 2022-23.

3.1 The College of Policing has three main Equality Objectives. Objective One is to ‘Improve data quality and regular monitoring’ Objective Two is ‘Pay and grading’, and Objective Three is ‘Offer targeted development opportunities for under-represented groups.

3.2 Work towards these objectives includes a Diverse Ethnic Action Network (DEAN) survey, which captured views and experiences specifically on racial equality and inclusion in the College, gender pay gap reports, reward and recognition ambitions, diverse interview panels and staff networks based on, but not limited to, protected characteristics, with a senior leader as sponsor.

3.3 More information can be found here: https://www.college.police.uk/about/equality-and-diversity/public-secto….

4.1 Given the nature of this training efforts will be made to ensure any members of the public or other staff in City Hall on the day are made aware that the training is taking place, and any incidents discussed are scenarios for the purposes of training.

4.2 There are no conflicts of interest to declare from those involved in the drafting or clearance of this decision form.

5.1 Approval for the spend of £33,465 includes facilitators for the 3 days training, materials, guest speakers, and immersive learning exercise equipment. The cost will be incurred in 2022-23 and there is sufficient budget within the City Operations Unit to cover this cost.

Power to undertake the requested decisions

6.1 The foregoing sections of this report indicate that the decisions requested of the assistant director concern the exercise of the Authority’s general powers and fall within the Authority’s statutory power to do such things considered to further or which are facilitative of, conducive or incidental to the promotion of social development, economic development and wealth creation and improvement of the environment in Greater London and in formulating the proposals in respect of which a decision is sought officers have complied with the Authority’s related statutory duties to:

i. pay due regard to the principle that there should be equality of opportunity for all people;

ii. consider how the proposals will promote the improvement of health of persons, health inequalities between persons and to contribute towards the achievement of sustainable development in the United Kingdom;

iii. consult with appropriate bodies.

6.2 In taking the decisions requested, the assistant director must have due regard to the Public Sector Equality Duty; namely the need to eliminate discrimination, harassment, victimisation and any other conduct prohibited by the Equality Act 2010, and to advance equality of opportunity between persons who share a relevant protected characteristic (age; disability; gender reassignment; marriage and civil partnership; pregnancy and maternity; race; religion or belief; sex; sexual orientation) and persons who do not share it and foster good relations between persons who share a relevant protected characteristic and persons who do not share it (section 149 of the Equality Act 2010). To this end, the assistant director should have particular regard to section 3 (above) of this report.

Exemption from the Contracts and Funding Code

6.3 The procurement of the training services from the College of Policing is valued at up to £33,465.  Section 9 of the Code requires that the Authority undertake a formal tender process or make a call off from an accessible framework for procurements with a value between £10,000 and £150,000.  However, section 10 of the Code also provides that an exemption from this requirement may be justified on the basis of the service provider’s previous involvement in a specific current project or continuation of existing work that cannot be separated from the new project/work.  The officers have set out at paragraphs 2.2 to 2.4 above the reasons why the procurement of the College of Policing falls within the said exemption.  Accordingly, the exemption may be approved, if the assistant director be so minded.