Item 16
AT A MEETING of the HAMPSHIRE FIRE AND RESCUE AUTHORITY HUMAN RESOURCES COMMITTEE held at Hampshire Fire Service Headquarters, Eastleigh on Tuesday, 1 February 2005.
Present: Councillors K Chapman (Chairman), Mrs E Baker, Mrs A E Bailey, A Bentley, R Baulk, E F Gale, MBE, D Horne, D A Kirk, R McIntosh, K P J Searle
161 APOLOGIES
Apologies for absence were received from Councillors P Galton and Mrs D. Harrison.
162 DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST
Members were mindful that, where they believed they had a personal or personal prejudicial interest in any matter to be considered at the meeting, they should, normally at the time of debate, declare their interest and having regard to the circumstances described in paragraphs 9, 10, 11 and 12 of the Fire Authority's Code of Conduct consider whether to leave the meeting whilst the matter was discussed.
There were no declarations of interest made by members under this item.
163 MINUTES
The minutes of the meeting held on Wednesday, 1 December 2004 were confirmed as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.
164 DEPUTATIONS
There were no deputations made under this item.
165 ESTABLISHMENT
The Committee considered the report of the Chief Officer (Item 5 in the Minute Book) updating Members on the authorised and actual establishment as of 31 December 2004.
The Committee were also informed that separate reviews of the senior and middle management structure would also be undertaken linked to the forthcoming job evaluation exercise. This would clarify organisational requirements against roles as determined by the Integrated Risk Management Plan.
RESOLVED:
That the changes to the Establishment under the Chief Officer's delegated powers be noted.
166 EQUALITY IMPACT ASSESSMENT
The Committee considered the report of the Chief Officer (Item 6 in the Minute Book) detailing the action taken to date by the Service to ensure compliance with the statutory duty under the Race Relations (Amendment) Act, 2000 with regard to Equality Impact Assessment processes.
It was noted that Equality Impact Assessment would be covered in a future Members Training Day.
RESOLVED:
That the actions taken to date by the Service to ensure compliance with the statutory duty under the Race Relations (Amendment) Act 2000 with regard to Equality Impact Assessment processes be noted and endorsed.
167 DRAFT REVISED RACE EQUALITY SCHEME
The Committee considered the report of the Chief Officer (Item 7 in the Minute Book) detailing the draft revised Race Equality Scheme (RES) and Action Plan (Appendix A to the report).
It was reported that the Legal Affairs Committee of the Commission for Racial Equality was reviewing the Fire Service RES and Action Plan to determine its compliance with statutory duties. To demonstrate commitment to the actions set out in the RES, an Equality and Diversity Project Board had been set up as a matter of priority and a project brief was submitted for consideration by the Committee (Appendix B to the report).
The Committee were also advised that to achieve the Equality and Diversity Strategy, it was proposed that the establishment be increased by five posts, including possibly three temporary Outreach Workers. In the short term these posts would be funded from within existing resources and under spend.
RESOLVED:
That it be a RECOMMENDATION to the Fire Authority that:
(i) That any comments on the content of the Draft Service Order 1/6/4 Race Equality Scheme Revision II and the Draft Action Plan (Appendix A to the report) be submitted to the Head of Human Resources by 12 March 2005.
(ii) That any comments on the Draft Project Brief, Project Approach and Project Organisation (Appendix B to the report) be submitted to the Head of Human Resources by 12 March 2005.
(iii) That the establishment of the Equality and Diversity Project Board be endorsed and the Chief Officer be given delegated authority to approve the final Project Plan, in consultation with the Project Board once the formal consultation process has been completed.
(iv) That the establishment be increased by five posts, two permanent and three temporary contracts, as set out in paragraph 5.1.2 of the report.