Ordinary Meeting of Council - 7 July 2009 Item 13
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DISASTER RECOVERY & BUSINESS CONTINUITY PLAN
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY PURPOSE OF REPORT:
To seek Council's adoption of Council's Disaster Recovery and Business Continuity Plan.
BACKGROUND:
The Department of Local Government has issued Councils with a number of circulars regarding the need for Councils to develop Business Continuity Plans and ensure business continuity in the event of a disaster.
COMMENTS:
Council staff have developed over the years a draft Disaster Recovery and Business Continuity Plan. The plan that has been developed is considered to be an interim plan until the property at 31 Bridge Street Pymble has been upgraded and the new depot at Suakin Street has been constructed.
RECOMMENDATION:
That Council adopts the attached Disaster Recovery and Business Continuity Plan as an interim plan until the 31 Bridge Street building and the new depot facility are fully functional.
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PURPOSE OF REPORT
To seek Council's adoption of Council's Disaster Recovery and Business Continuity Plan.
BACKGROUND
Following the fire that destroyed the Council Chambers at Bankstown Council several years ago, the Department of Local Government and the insurance bodies have reminded councils of the need to prepare and establish Business Continuity Plans. Over the years, staff have worked on a Draft Disaster Recovery and Business Continuity Plan in the event of an emergency that would significantly impact on the ongoing business of Council. Whilst the plan has been developed and upgraded over time, a number of aspects need to be put in place so that the operations of Council can continue. One of the key aspects of the plan was the establishment of a new depot that could be used as a new Council headquarters in the event of a major disaster to the current Council Chambers.
COMMENTS
Attached is a copy of the latest updated Disaster Recovery and Business Continuity Plan that can be used as a plan to re-establishing operations of Council in the event of an emergency, such as a major fire, that may result in the Council Chambers being inoperable. Whilst staff have developed a plan on how business can continue and how the emergency can be managed, back up systems and procedures have also been developed and implemented to ensure valuable data and business systems can be retrieved. A temporary back up computer room has been installed in the Gordon Library which contains all back up data and systems. Consequently, while hardware might be destroyed, Council’s records and systems can be recovered. The plan also includes locations where key staff can be housed and how the disaster will be managed until business is fully restored. The current plan involves the use of parts of the Gordon Library and the Old School Building and this is covered in the plan. The plan is considered to be an interim plan until Council relocates its Depot operations to 31 Bridge Street and the new Depot at Suakin Street Pymble. In the new Council building at 31 Bridge Street, a computer room will be installed to not only provide for the operations of the Depot but also act as a back up to the Council Chambers in the event of a disaster. This is expected to be commissioned by the end of September 2009 as the air conditioning, electrical and data cabling is being replaced in the building due to the current equipment and cabling being obsolete and not to current standards. Fibre optic cables have already been installed to allow connection between the current Council Chambers building and 31 Bridge Street, Pymble. This will enable a high speed link and better reliability with communication
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between the two buildings rather than relying on a microwave link that currently exists between Council and the current Depot. When the new computer room and back up systems have been installed at 31 Bridge Street, Pymble, the plan will be updated and referred back to Council.
CONSULTATION
While the current plan may impact on various users of the Gordon Library and the Old School Building in the event of an emergency, it is not expected to impact on the regular users of the building such as the Historical Society as they will still be able to operate even in an emergency. The other user groups that use the meeting rooms and the youth groups can be easily accommodated in other facilities around the area.
FINANCIAL CONSIDERATIONS
As the back up computer server has already been installed in the Gordon Library and will soon be transferred to the building at 31 Bridge Street, Pymble, the costs have been met by previous budgets and also with the current budget for 31 Bridge Street, Pymble upgrades. Any costs associated with the recovery process and disasters associated with the Council Chambers is covered under Council’s insurances.
CONSULTATION WITH OTHER COUNCIL DEPARTMENTS
Consultation has taken place with relevant staff across all departments in the preparation of the Disaster Recovery and Business Continuity Plan.
SUMMARY
The Department of Local Government has been advising councils over the years to establish Business Continuity Plans. Staff from various sections have developed a draft plan that can be used in the event of an emergency where the current Council Chambers is destroyed or significant information systems have been destroyed such as records or the computer servers. The current plan is considered to be an interim plan to cover any emergency that may eventuate prior to establishing new facilities at 31 Bridge Street and the new depot at Suakin Street. The plan will be updated again when these areas become operational and the updated plan will be referred back to Council.
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RECOMMENDATION
That Council adopts the attached Disaster Recovery and Business Continuity Plan as an interim plan until the 31 Bridge Street and the new depot are fully functional.
John Giovinazzo Manager Information Technology
Greg Piconi Director Operations
Attachments:
Disaster Recovery & Business Continuity Plan - 771539
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