Councils in the dock on swine flu failings

SMALL business lobby group The Forum of Private Business has warned that many local authorities are failing in their duty to help firms prepare for swine flu.

The Knutsford-based FPB issued the alert after learning that councils across the UK are obliged to help businesses put in place measures to deal with outbreaks of infections.

The requirement for local authorities to help firms in their area is written into the Civil Contingencies Act 2004.

It is intended to make sure a crisis like the swine flu pandemic does not cause the widespread collapse of businesses – and the loss of the vital services they provide to local communities.

However, as far as the FPB is aware, none of its members have received any support or guidance on the issue from their local authorities.

Instead, they have been turning to the FPB for advice on how best to prepare for a possible outbreak of the virus.

With smaller employers particularly at risk of closure due to staff sickness, the FPB is urging councils to do more to safeguard those in their areas.  

Policy representative Matt Goodman said: ““Swine flu could prove to be a major headache for thousands of small firms who don’t have the workforce to absorb staff sicknesses, so it is vitally important that they are given every possible bit of help to see them through it.

“While there may be some local authorities out there fulfilling their obligations under the [Civil Contingencies] Act, not one of the business owners who have been calling us have received any guidance or support from their councils. Instead they are coming to the FPB for advice.”