AT A MEETING of the HAMPSHIRE FIRE AND RESCUE AUTHORITY HUMAN RESOURCES COMMITTEE held at Hampshire Fire and Rescue Service Headquarters, Eastleigh on 29 November, 2005.
PRESENT:
Councillors: K. Chapman (Chairman); Mrs. E. Baker; M.Cooper; P. Galton; E.F. Gale; D. Horne; K. House; R. Kimber; Sam Payne.
24 APOLOGIES
Apologies for absence were received from Councillors R. Baulk and R. McIntosh.
25 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.
26 MINUTES
The Minutes of the meeting held on 8 September, 2005 were confirmed as a correct record and signed by the Chairman, subject to the inclusion of Members' appreciation and thanks to Karen Widdowson who had clerked their meetings over the past two years.
27 DEPUTATIONS
There were no deputations made under this item.
28 WORKFORCE PLAN AND PEOPLE STRATEGY
The Committee considered the report of the Chief Officer (Item 5 in the Minute Book) setting out the final draft of the Workforce Plan and People Strategy documents required for the Integrated Risk Management Plan.
The Committee were aware of their role in the leadership of the Authority and gave some thought to how the personal review mechanism of elected members should take place. Members felt that the Workforce Plan and People Strategy documents had been well written and asked to receive a bound copy of the final version in due course.
RESOLVED:
a) That the approach taken in preparing the Workforce Plan, People Strategy and Action Plan be endorsed.
b) That Members be invited to raise any questions with, or forward any comments to, the Head of Human Resources by 29 December, 2005 in relation to the Workforce Plan, People Strategy and Action Plan.
c) That the Chairman of this Committee be appointed as a member of the Workforce Planning Steering Group and that the Vice Chairman be appointed as deputy.
29 JOB EVALUATION OF GREY BOOK POSTS
The Committee considered the report of the Chief Officer (Item 6 in the Minute Book) detailing the progress made evaluating Grey Book posts within the Hampshire Fire and Rescue Service.
Members were informed of how Hampshire Fire and Rescue Service were leading the way with the rank to role process; and of how the Service was working with its regional partners to foster joined-up working and key communication.
The Committee enquired as to the current level of morale in the Service and were sympathetic to the concerns that had been raised by employees. The Deputy Chief Officer was sensitive to the emotive nature of the job evaluation and was in an ongoing process of communicating the changes and their effects to all individuals. The Committee recognised that in the evaluation a small number of roles would move both up and down within the new organisation chart. Members were assured that those individuals whose roles were downgraded would come under a three year pay protection scheme.
RESOLVED:
a) That the approach taken in preparing for, and progressing, the process of job evaluation be endorsed.
b) That the progress and outcomes achieved so far from the new grading structure and job evaluation be noted.
30 ENDORSEMENT OF THE HFRS EQUALITY AND DIVERSITY STRATEGY AND COMPREHENSIVE EQUALITY POLICY
The Committee considered the report of the Chief Officer (Item 7 in the Minute Book) detailing the Equality and Diversity Strategy and Comprehensive Equality Policy.
Members received the documents with interest and discussed some of the conflicts which arose between health and safety procedures and equalities issues. Members were also interested in the roles of the new Equality and Diversity Team and especially the Community Outreach Workers. The Committee asked the Deputy Chief Officer to organise a presentation by the team in a year's time on their work and results.
RESOLVED:
That it be a RECOMMENDATION to the Authority that the Equality and Diversity Strategy and Comprehensive Equality Policy be endorsed.
31 ESTABLISHMENT
The Committee considered the report of the Chief Officer (Item 8 in the Minute Book) seeking approval for an increase in the establishment.
It was pointed out that the Committee were not able to endorse expenditure from future budgets without the approval of the full Authority. Members went on to discuss the benefit of the new posts outlined in the report, and it was
RESOLVED:
a) That the appendices to this report be noted.
b) That approval be given to the posts outlined in the appendices subject to their funding being secured in the 2006/07 budget.