Archived decisions

Present:

Mr J Bonney

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HFRS (Chairman)

Mr C Bacon

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HFRS

Ms S Baker

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RFU

Mrs K Birkett

-

HFRS

Mr K Butcher

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HFRS

Cllr M Cartwright

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Chair, HFRA

Ms C Foster-Key

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HFRS

Mrs V King

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HFRS

Mrs J McNeill

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HFRS

Mr S Moore

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FBU

Mr A Needham

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RFU

Mr L Ramsey

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B&EEM

Mr P Trew

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FBU

Mr S Waas

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HFRS

Cllr Mrs P West

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HFRA

Mr H Williams

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FBU

Mr R Wythe

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FBU

Mrs R Knight

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Minute Secretary

Members of Red Watch, C56

1.

APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE

Apologies were received from Cllr Semmens and Mr Presswell.

2.

MINUTES OF PREVIOUS MEETING - 17.10.01

These were accepted as a true and accurate record.

3.

MATTERS ARISING

3.1

Networking Women in the Fire Service Conference - 6 of 17.10.01

Three members of the Service had attended this conference which was held in Bristol. A brief explanation of the origins of this organisation was given. From a very 'small acorn' it had grown into quite a large oak tree. It was stressed that although there is specific reference to 'women', men are welcome to be actively involved as well. HFRS is an affiliate member. Arrangements will be made for a short presentation by one of the people who had attended the Conference at the next meeting.

ACTION: Mrs Knight

3.2

Dyslexia Awareness - HFRS Initiative - 8 of 17.10.01

Mrs King reported that the presentation on dyslexia awareness given by Ms Sarah Hurley, retained firefighter at Lyndhurst, to HFRS training personnel had been very well received. Ms Hurley had also given a presentation to the FS Dept. Mr Butcher asked that the Training Department be kept informed of any training which was given, as records of training to employees needed to be recorded.

3.3

Any Other Business - 9 of 17.10.01

Mr Waas stated that unfortunately the presentation we had hoped could be given by Nick Shah, Hampshire Constabulary, was not possible (had had to be cancelled) as Mr Shah's manager felt that presentations such as these were not within his remit. Mr Bonney has a meeting arranged with the Deputy Chief Constable in the near future and will explore the possibility of future initiatives for joint working in diversity matters.

ACTION: Mr Bonney

4.

FAIRNESS AND DIGNITY TRAINERS - UPDATE

A progress report was given by Mr Waas. The 25 volunteer trainers have been selected and the initial one week training courses are due to take place at Southampton City College on weeks commencing 4 February and 18 February 2002.

Mr Needham expressed disappointment that no retained personnel had come forward for selection and felt that perhaps more should be done, different wording of advert, etc., to encourage a greater response from retained personnel. Mr Bacon responded that although he had no objection to retained personnel becoming trainers, the Service needed to carefully consider the large amount of time this would demand from individuals who mostly already had very busy commitments outside the Service. This would be especially significant here as it is hoped that these trainers will expand their role of Service trainers to become a reference point for mentoring purposes for employees. This may present difficulties with the already onerous call on their time for normal drills and training requirements.

Following further discussion it was agreed that HFRS would continue with the current trainers and review the situation regarding wording of the advert for volunteer trainers and time constraints when more trainers are required.

5.

LINK 2 LEARN PROJECT

Mr Waas informed the meeting that HFRS was running a Link to Learn pilot scheme for a three month trial period, initially at Service HQ and this had been advertised in Routine Notice and also by circulating advertising leaflets to stations. The advisory service will be sited in the canteen at Service HQ. A Link 2 Learn adviser will be available between 12oo and 1400 hours every Tuesday for advice and guidance for members of staff interested in furthering their future personal development interests. Concern was expressed that personnel in Divisions might not be able to take advantage of this and Mr Waas and Mr Butcher will discuss how it could be advertised more fully. Following discussion, during which it was again stressed that this is purely a trial to see what the take-up would be, it was agreed that if it proved to be successful then ways of extending the service would be considered.

ACTION: Mr Waas/Mr Butcher

6.

POSITIVE ACTION DAY - 2 FEBRUARY 2002

The positive action day planned for Saturday, 2 February 2002, had been cancelled due to lack of time and resources. However, some fitness clinics will be facilitated by members of the Training Centre and people who have attended previous open days, invited members of minority ethnic groups, etc., will be contacted and informed of this. Mrs King is organising a positive action day at Service HQ for students from Southampton City College during week commencing 21 January 2002 who are attending the Access Course. This course provides an opportunity for young women and members of minority ethnic groups to be given positive support in preparing to apply for vacancies with the Police, Ambulance or Fire Service. It was felt that some thought needed to be given to the fact that following the Access Courses students wishing to apply to join the Police and Ambulance could do so straight away but, due to the annual recruitment process within HFRS, those wishing to join the Fire Service might have to wait up to a year.

ACTION: Mrs King

Mr Waas and Mrs King are planning to develop a dedicated team who would be able to give recruitment presentations at careers fairs and other venues such as schools/colleges.

At this point, Mrs King explained exactly what positive action meant. The personnel within most fire brigades are not representative of the population they serve, and positive action is a way of helping people from those groups, i.e., women and ethnic minorities, to be aware of what the Fire Service has to offer as a career and also what sort of fitness is required to be able to join. This is not a 'backdoor route' to becoming a firefighter as once they apply to join they are assessed, tested and interviewed in exactly the same way as all other applicants with no preferential treatment being given.

Mrs King reported that arrangements are now being made for the next round of wholetime firefighter recruitment, which again will be a collaborative campaign across the South East Region. Three recruitment days will be held - 6, 13 and 20 April 2002, and the format will be much the same as in 2000. Advertising will start about end February/beginning March. There will be a lot of information on the Website and 2 new information booklets produced by DTLR and the Region will be available from HQ. Mrs King will arrange for some of these booklets to be sent out to stations.

ACTION: Mrs King

7.

ANY OTHER BUSINESS

7.1

Banner Theatre Group

It is hoped that a presentation by the above group will be arranged in the next few months.

ACTION: Mr Waas/Mr Ramsey

7.2

Diversity 2

The new Diversity 2 Report has been issued which shows that essentially there is a lot more work to be done and the task ahead will be quite significant.

ACTION: Mr Waas

7.3

Mr Williams wondered if there could be a better system devised for looking at the various issues which cross over the wholetime and retained rather than in the ad-hoc fashion as at present in an effort to ensure both sections of the Service are being treated fairly.

7.4

Mr Butcher reported that the new Role Maps were a fundamental change which makes parity for wholetime and retained across a whole raft of areas.

7.5

Awareness Training for Elected Members

Mrs King said that there are plans for more fairness and dignity awareness training for Elected Members. Cllr Mrs West said she welcomed this and hoped that the training would be sooner rather than later and believed that it was very important for Members to have this training to have a better understanding of the concerns and needs of the Service.

ACTION: Mrs King

7.6

Fairness & Dignity Newsletter

Mr Bacon wondered whether it would be worth producing some form of newsletter which could be circulated across the Service to inform members what was happening in respect of diversity issues.

Cllr Cartwright said he had found the meeting enlightening and thought provoking.

Mr Bonney thanked all those present for attending what had been his first meeting and hoped that they had found it worth while.

8.

DATE OF NEXT MEETING

1000 hrs on Thursday, 18 April 2002, at B23 Cosham Fire Station.