Archived decisions
AT A MEETING of the HAMPSHIRE FIRE AND RESCUE AUTHORITY PERSONNEL COMMITTEE held at the Fire Brigade Headquarters, Eastleigh on 10 September, 2001
PRESENT:
Councillors: M.S. Geddes (Vice-Chairman in the Chair); Mrs. A.E. Bailey; A. Bentley; K. Chapman; M. Gausden; Mrs. D. Harrison; D. Horne; D.A. Kirk; R. McIntosh; K.P.J. Searle.
The Chief Fire Officer welcomed John Bonney to his first meeting. John had recently been appointed as Deputy Chief Fire Officer (Fire Safety Personnel) and would take up his post with the HFRS in November.
47 APOLOGIES
Apologies for absence were received from Councillors A. Bentley and G. Semmens.
48 MINUTES
The Minutes of the meeting of the Committee held on 12 March, 2001 were confirmed as a correct record and signed by the Vice-Chairman.
49 JOB EVALUATION - NON-UNIFORMED STAFF - PROGRESS UPDATE
The Committee considered the report of the Chief Fire Officer (Item 3 in the Minute Book) on progress with the current job evaluation process of all uniformed staff conditioned to the "Green Book" within the Hampshire Fire and Rescue Service.
Members noted that the timetable had been adhered to and that the pay modelling process and structure were under way.
RESOLVED:
(i) That Councillors Gausden, Thorne and Semmens be appointed to oversee and approve implementation of the new grading structure.
(ii) That options for regrading and any financial implications be reported to the Personnel Committee and Finance and General Purposes Committee for evaluation and approval and their decisions be taken into account when the revised and forward budgets are considered by the Authority.
50 TRANSFER OF CONTROL ROOM PERSONNEL TO "GREY BOOK" CONDITIONS OF SERVICE
The Committee considered the report of the Chief Fire Officer (Item 4 in the Minute Book) on the transfer of control room personnel from the NJC Local Government Services "Green Book" Conditions of Service to the "Grey Book" Conditions of Service in line with operational firefighters.
Members noted that all existing personnel had received new contracts with effect from 1 July 2001 but where protection arrangements applied, this would be effective from 1 January 2001.
RESOLVED:
That the action taken to rationalise the pay of Control Room staff be noted and that the delay in achieving the previous estimate of savings be addressed in the Revised Budget for 2001/02.
51 COMMUNITY FIRE SAFETY SCHOOLS EDUCATION STAFF
The Committee considered the report of the Chief Fire Officer (Item 5 in the Minute Book) on progress with the delivery of the schools education programme.
In discussion it was agreed that professional educational support should continue to be given to schools as it was considered to be an effective use of resources.
Members commended the work of the Fire Safety Teams in Schools and the Chief Fire Officer encouraged new Members to visit a school in their area to experience the fire safety education provided.
RESOLVED:
That the changes to the establishment detailed in paragraph 4 of the report be approved and that the saving be held in view of current financial difficulties and taken into account by the Authority when it considers the revised and forward budgets.
52 IMPLEMENTATION OF NEW PAYROLL SYSTEM
The Committee received and noted the report of the Chief Fire Officer (Item 6 in the Minute Book) on the replacement of the payroll system.
53 VARIATIONS TO ESTABLISHMENT REPORTED UNDER CHIEF FIRE OFFICER'S DELEGATED POWERS : INTRODUCTION OF ADDITIONAL THIRD LEADING FIREFIGHTER POSTS AT ANDOVER AND HAVANT FIRE STATIONS
The Committee received and noted the report of the Chief Fire Officer (Item 7 in the Minute Book) on the permanent regrading of two Firefighter posts to Leading Firefighter at Andover and Havant Fire Stations.
54 WORKING TIME REGULATIONS - RETAINED FIREFIGHTER POSITION
The Committee considered the report of the Chief Fire Officer (Item 8 in the Minute Book) on progress made with the retained firefighter position with regard to the working time regulations.
RESOLVED:
(i) That the report be noted.
(ii) That the increased cost estimated to be £20,000 incurred in 2001/02 for 2000/01 be addressed by the Authority when the Revised Budget for 2001/02 is considered.
55 ATTENDANCE AT SEMINAR - PERSONAL AND ORGANISATIONAL DEVELOPMENT IN FIRE SERVICE - 15 NOVEMBER, 2001 - CAMBRIDGE
The Committee considered an invitation from Essex Fire Authority for this Authority to be represented at a seminar on personal and organisational development in the Fire Service on 15 November, 2001 at Cambridge.
RESOLVED:
That approval be given for Councillor Mrs. A.E. Bailey and 1 Member from each of the other two political parties on the Authority to attend the seminar in Cambridge on 15 November 2001; the names of the Members to be notified to the Clerk.
56 EXCLUSION OF THE PRESS AND PUBLIC
RESOLVED:
That, by virtue of Paragraph 7 of Part I of Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act 1972, the press and public be excluded from the meeting during consideration of Minutes 57 to 60 below.
57 WARSASH MARITIME CENTRE
The Committee considered the confidential report of the Chief Fire Officer (Item 11 in the Minute Book) on the support currently provided to the Warsash Maritime Centre.
Members agreed that it was critical to continue the Fire Fighting at Sea Training
RESOLVED:
(i) That unless a strong business case is made by Warsash Maritime Centre the existing contract to provide instructor staff for the Marine Firefighting Unit be ended on 30 April, 2002.
(ii) That the financial implications of the potential loss of the sum outlined in Paragraph 1.4 of the report and covering support costs be considered as part of the budget preparation process for 2002/03 and beyond.
58 RETAINED SERVICE COUNTING FOR WHOLETIME SERVICE
The Committee considered the confidential report of the Chief Fire Officer (Item 12 in the Minute Book) on the position of wholetime firefighters pay entitlement.
RESOLVED:
That it be a RECOMMENDATION to the HFRA:
(i) That option 2 for dealing with this matter, as set out in Paragraph 4. of the confidential report, be considered by the Authority at its next meeting as the preferred option.
(ii) That interest payments would not be made on any outstanding money.
59 EMPLOYMENT TRIBUNAL - OUTCOME
The Committee received and noted a confidential report of the Chief Fire Officer (Item 13 in the Minute Book) on the outcome of an Employment Tribunal.
60 OVERPAYMENT OF SALARY
The Committee considered and approved a confidential report of the Chief Fire Officer (Item 14 in the Minute Book) concerning the writing-off of an overpayment of salary.
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