Archived decisions

    AT A MEETING of the HAMPSHIRE FIRE AND RESCUE AUTHORITY PERSONNEL COMMITTEE held at The Fire Brigade Headquarters, Eastleigh on 14 November, 2001

PRESENT:

    Councillors: G. Semmens (Chairman); K. Chapman; M.S. Geddes; Mrs. D. Harrison; D. Horne; D.A. Kirk; R. McIntosh; Mrs. P. West.

61 APOLOGIES

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Mrs. Bailey and Bentley.

62 MINUTES

The Minutes of the meeting of the Committee held on 10 September, 2001 were confirmed as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.

63 CFS ACTIVITIES - SRB BIDS/FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES

The Committee considered the report of the Chief Fire Officer (Item 3 in the Minute Book) on an initiative to increase Community Fire Safety activities and working towards achieving partnership with local communities.

Members welcomed the initiatives and commitment to Community Fire Safety activities.

RESOLVED:

      (i) That the Single Regeneration Budget bids to Southampton City Council be welcomed.

      (ii) That the initiative to apply for further Single Regeneration Budget funding to cover additional Community Fire Safety activities be endorsed.

64 OFFICER WORDLOADS/FDS COVER

The Committee considered the report of the Chief Fire Officer (Item 4 in the Minute Book) on proposals to review officer workloads and flexible duty system cover.

In discussion, the goodwill shown by the Officers to help make the system work was recognised. Members felt that the oral explanations given for the need for the proposed changes were powerful and could have been more fully requested in the written report.

RECOMMENDATIONS TO THE AUTHORITY:

      (i) That from 1 April, 2002 an additional 4 FDS Divisional Officer posts be provided and that 6 42-hour station officer posts be regraded to the flexible duty system at a total cost of £248,200 per annum, with any savings in training costs invested in other training and that these proposals be taken account of in the budget setting process.

      (ii) That in support of the above recommendation a report be made to the Authority supporting these proposals and including the additional issues raised during the debate by members.

65 REVIEW OF ESTABLISHMENT AND RIDERSHIP FACTOR FOR WHOLE-TIME SHIFT FIRE STATIONS

The Committee considered the report of the Chief Fire Officer (Item 5 in the Minute Book) setting out the standard crewing for Whole-time Shift crewed fire stations and proposals to provide additional posts to achieve the national standards of fire cover.

Members welcomed the proposals to increase the fire-fighter posts and to increase flexibility and effective achievement of standard crewing at stations where cover is needed. It was agreed that there was a need for a further comparison of ridership levels with other Local Authorities and that this area should be revisited next year, prior to the recruitment of the second of the two proposed tranches of eight additional firefighters.

RECOMMENDATION TO THE AUTHORITY:

      (i) That the increase of 16 fire-fighter posts as part of the Whole-time Shift station establishment as detailed in paragraph 5.1 of the report be approved and that these proposals be taken account of in the budget setting process.

      (ii) That in support of the above recommendation a report be made to the Authority supporting these issues and the additional issues raised during the debate by Members.

66 EXCLUSION OF THE PRESS AND PUBLIC

RESOLVED:

That, by virtue of the paragraph of Part I of Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act 1972 shown below the press and public be excluded from the meeting during consideration of the matter contained in Minute 67 below.

67 WARSASH MARITIME CENTRE

The Committee considered the confidential report of the Chief Fire Officer (Item 7 in the Minute Book) on the existing partnership arrangements with Warsash Maritime Centre.



RECOMMENDATION TO THE AUTHORITY:

      (i) That the decision to terminate the contract between HFRS and Warsash Maritime Centre as soon as reasonably possible be endorsed.

      (ii) That the net loss of £30,000 income (covering support costs) be addressed as part of the budget preparation process for 2002/03 and beyond.

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