The Formative Years

Shortly after ALARM'S first conference news that the Municipal Mutual Insurance Company (MMI) was in trouble and likely to cease trading shook the world of local authority insurance. The company provided cover for the vast majority of local authorities normally through ground up cover. Local authorities reacted to the news in a variety of ways. Some closed public buildings as a response to doubts regarding cover.

The future was uncertain and ALARM became a focal point for advice and intervention. The Association had already booked a venue in London for a seminar prior to the MMI crisis and the opportunity was taken to use the seminar to discuss the issue.

The Municipal Journal (October 1992) stated that:

"Ken Kennedy, chairman of ALARM had some sound advice from:-

Corporal Jones of Dad's Army fame in these uncertain days for council insurance. 'Don't panic' was his message to delegates who packed into the new Connaught Rooms in London for the local authority associations' rather timely conference on the future of local government insurance.....

Mr Kennedy had to confess that even the professional risk managers had been overtaken by events, the ALARM newsletter is actually sponsored by the insurance giant [MMI].

In fact Mr Kennedy used the occasion to make an eloquent plea for new sponsors and for a more permanent office for his association to operate from.

The title of Mr Kennedy's speech was 'What local authorities can do to help themselves' so clearly ALARM was taking its own philosophy to heart"

The collapse of MMI meant that for most local authorities they had to turn for the first time to the commercial market.

All insurers required evidence that authorities were effectively managing risk before cover at affordable rates was offered. The term 'risk management' was, to many public sector organisations, new and strange. Many of them re-badged their insurance officers and included risk management within their remit. This did not necessarily coincide with a redeployment of resources and ALARM was in a position to help through focused and shared information.

Attendance at the second annual conference at the Fire Service College, Morton in the Marsh 19th May 1993 exemplified the demand with 105 authorities sending delegates.

In the first of many memorable keynote speeches at Alarm conferences, John Murray, General Manager of Zurich Municipal (ZM) challenged delegates to enhance their own skills and develop effective risk management strategies within their employing organisations.

"The challenge is to develop a strategy for stability and to make it work across the full spectrum of all risks; natural, physical, social and political, to which all corporations are exposed. If this is achieved then risk mangers will be better understood, better assisted and, above all, better valued,"

Following Ken Kennedy's move to ZM Chris East (Cambridge County Council) assumed the Chairmanship. New national executive members included Tony Chapman (Peterborough City Council) and David Fleetwood (Sunderland City Council) both of whom would later chair the Association.

ALARM through it's national executive responded to the growing membership and member's needs for assistance in developing risk management within their employer organisations in a number of ways.

The network of regional groups was strengthened:

In the Midlands a new group was formed largely by Bill Sulman (Nottinghamshire County Council) and Paul Baker (Coventry City Council). Sixteen authority representatives met in April 1993;

Twenty authorities in the Southwest sent delegates to the inaugural meeting, 17th September 1993. Mike Hocking (Plymouth City Council) and Max Andrews (Devon and Cornwall Police) were elected chairman and secretary respectively;

In Scotland 25 authorities voted on 16th March 1994 for the establishment of a regional group. Ian Meach then working for Tayside Regional Council became its first chair. Always an active regional group, Scotland started as it meant to go on by organising two seminars in June and November 1994;

In June 1994 the North East Group, so crucial in the early days, was reformed under the chairmanship of David O'Neil (Gateshead MBC);

Regional groups took the lead in producing such valuable guidance as a risk management training video for employers (South east group), whilst the north west under the chairmanship of Alan Law (Staffordshire County Council) concentrated on school related issues with publications on security in schools; guidance on dealing with physical attacks on staff and contingency planning for headteachers.

Regional groups have and continue to provide a critical local presence and focus for grassroot involvement. Local networks have been developed through the active provision of meetings and seminars utilising a range of internal and external speakers. Scotland and Southeast region have in latter years developed successful regional two-day conferences to supplement their programmes.

ALARM developed and enhanced its national and international links with other UK based risk management organisations. As well as links with other UK based risk management organisations such as AIRMIC and IRM the Association provided input to numerous seminars, conferences and publications initiated by organisations such as CIPFA and the Audit Commission.

Internationally, exploratory talks took place with risk managers in the Netherlands during 1994 and Tony Chapman during his chairmanship represented the Association at meetings of PRIMEUR (Public Risk and Insurance Managers in Europe). Such European connections have proved limited, to date, but the links forged with PRIMA (Public Risk and Insurance Managers Association) its sister organisation in America has proved valuable for the sharing of experience and information. Since 1994 delegates have been exchanged to attend the two organisation's annual conferences.

The 1994 conference, the last one-day event, at Manchester Metropolitan University on 24th May offered 15 workshops. The latter was a response to delegate preferences requesting a greater spread of topics. Those who were at the conference will remember the memorable and moving keynote address given by Michael Saunders, Chief Executive, Warrington Borough Council on the issues involved in risk management following the terrorist bombings in Warrington in March 1993.

Although not finally introduced until October 1995 membership fees and the need to levy a fee to supplement the generous pump priming sponsorship that was available from providers, was discussed at the AGM.

The 1995 conference was the first held at Warwick University. Lasting one and a half days it also saw the first overseas delegates from PRIMA and the first presentation of the ALARM awards for risk management work undertaken by members and their employing organisations. Membership had grown to 450.