COUNTY councillors are being asked to back an emergency plan which would help Dorset should an emergency situation similar to foot and mouth ever occur again.

Chief executive David Jenkins will tell Thursday's county audit committee that the general perception was that the county council dealt well with the outbreak, which failed to breach county boundaries.

But he adds that there are lessons to be learned and members should back recommendations which try to tackle issues identified through feedback questionnaires and the officer cross-directorate working group.

Mr Jenkins says no new cases have been confirmed nationally for more than seven months and Dorset remains the only disease-free county in the south west. Interim measures will remain in place until November, he says.

He adds that emergency action plan proposals include a consistent, common practice of record keeping for time, resources and expense and the early provision of a central contingency fund on which an incident manager could authorise expenditure.

Mr Jenkins says the plan also proposed production of an animal diseases plan specifically for Dorset County Council, including all services likely to be involved and capturing the knowledge and experience gained during this crisis for the future.

Providing help and inquiry lines also needs careful consideration and assessment, says Mr Jenkins, to ensure adequate capacity and to avoid callers getting frustrated.

He added that the county emergency centre was ideal as a first response, but there was a need for an improved environment including a new heating system and ventilation and better data-communications infrastructure.

Mr Jenkins says it is probably fair to say that the far-reaching effects of the crisis on the county economy were not anticipated.

He adds: "The county council, through its economic development and tourism functions and contacts at both local and regional level, had a key role to play in both support for local business and promotion to address the downturn that was particularly felt in the tourism sector.

"This emergency has demonstrated that local authorities are well-placed to respond in ways that reflect the needs and concerns of local communities and stakeholders.

"The skills available within the county council and the positive attitude and professionalism of staff has been a major contributory factor to a job well done."