Archived decisions
Hampshire Fire and Rescue Authority |
Item 3 | |||
Best Value Committee |
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2 April 2003 |
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Report on Best Value Plan by District Auditor : Response to Recommendations | ||||
Report of the Chief Fire Officer |
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Contact: |
Philip Webb, Performance Review Manager Tel: 023 8064 4000 Ext 395 | |||
1 |
Summary | |||
1.1 |
Following an audit of the Authority's Best Value Plan, District Audit provided their report in November 2002. | |||
1.2 |
The report was generally complementary, praising, for example, the Authority's innovative approach to publishing the Plan on its web-site and the considerable progress in improving and integrating performance management in the Authority. | |||
1.3 |
The Auditor made seven recommendations. The following draft responses to these are put forward for Members' consideration and approval. | |||
1.4 |
The final response to the District Auditor's recommendations will be placed on our web-site - (http://www.hantsfire.gov.uk/manage/corporateplan/consultreview/last year.php) | |||
2 |
Response to the Recommendations | |||
2.1 |
Continue the active involvement of Members in Best Value Reviews | |||
We agree with and fully support this recommendation. Since October 2001 Members have been active in the Best Value Reviews of Catering (2 Members), Property (2 Members) and Fire Safety (3 Members). At a recent meeting of the Best Value Committee, the decision was taken to strengthen Member involvement in the review of Catering. In addition to the above, the Authority has taken the step of creating an informal Asset Management Working Group. Comprising of Members and officers, its role is to consider and make recommendations on the strategic management of the Authority's built estate and vehicles. | ||||
2.2 |
Effect project management training for all relevant staff as a matter of priority. | |||
On the advice of District Audit, the Service has chosen to adopt PRINCE II (Project Management in Controlled Environments) as its preferred methodology for project management. All senior staff will undertake a two day course in June 2003. This course will be rolled out to other managerial staff, primarily those involved in significant projects such as Best Value Reviews, Standards of Fire Cover and IT replacement later in the year. In addition to the above, certain key staff will undertake a five day practitioner's course. | ||||
2.3 |
Service Management Team and Senior Managers to re-emphasise commitment to performance management and ensure integration into management processes. | |||
The strategic framework contained in the HFRS Corporate Plan is used to provide quick and easy cross-references and links between: action plans, time lines, performance indicators and functional plans. We have produced a video for staff entitled 'Your part in the big plan' to highlight key aspects of the Corporate Plan. In addition to this, the recently launched HFRS newsletter 'Hantsfire' has already been used to promote performance management techniques. The Service Management Team agenda contains regular reviews of performance indicator data and development of local performance indicators. This latter item permits us to drill down to local/station performance plans and ensure key management strategies are publicised to all staff and tasks are devolved down to the level responsible for implementation. | ||||
2.4 |
Implementation of the IPDS programme used to pursue IIP accreditation. | |||
There is no doubt that the implementation of Integrated Personal Development System (IPDS) from April 2003 will support our aim to become IIP accredited. It makes sense therefore to delay formal application for accreditation until IPDS has been substantially rolled-out across the Service. Several initiatives are already underway including the installation of multi-media presentation units at all fire stations to help deliver the key training and development modules/packages. Members of the Authority have already had the opportunity to attend an introductory awareness session on IPDS and other briefing/progress sessions will be arranged during the year. | ||||
2.5 |
Reinforce 'buy-in' to new performance management framework at all levels, to ensure the involvement and contribution of staff. | |||
The training and awareness video for staff entitled 'Your part in the big plan' (see also 2.3) highlights key areas of the Corporate Plan. This, together with regular Best Value news letters, will be used to promote interest and encourage staff to regularly access the Corporate Plan on our web-site. The design of our web-site deliberately incorporates links to other sites and information, with the intention of it becoming a good "one-stop shop" for relevant information. The regular production of Local Performance Indicators will also help to develop more active interest and involvement of staff. | ||||
2.6 |
Ensure the implementation of SAP takes account of the Authority's needs as a matter of priority. | |||
The SAP system was adapted by the HFRA as it was the preferred system of HCC - our system provider. Initial user specifications were drawn up by the Service - particularly with regard to the Personnel and Finance functions. Implementation has been delayed with resultant difficulties encountered in obtaining some performance data. These difficulties have been referred to the County Treasurer and as a result actions have been taken which are improving the situation. It is envisaged that the roll out of SAP (including training) will be completed by March 2004. The Service has recently established an Information and Communications Technology user group which has representatives from every department. This group will identify problems and issues affecting the Service and make recommendations for rectification - including any that relate to SAP implementation. | ||||
2.7 |
Ensure comprehensive training for SAP is given to all relevant staff. | |||
All users of SAP will be given 'just in time' training by HCC SAP training teams on the systems immediately before it is implemented at their personal workstations. To date personnel from Payroll, Finance and Corporate Support Services have been trained on the system and are using SAP effectively. | ||||
3 3.1 |
European Convention on Human Rights and the Human Rights Act 1998 The proposals within this report are compatible with the provisions of the European Convention on Human Rights and the Human Rights Act 1998 and considered in the light of the Race Relations (amendment) Act 2002. | |||
4 |
Recommendations | |||
4.1 |
That the Committee approve the responses to the District Auditor's recommendations. | |||
Section 100D - Local Government Act 1972 - background papers | ||||
The following documents disclose the facts or matters on which this report, or an important part of it, is based and has been relied upon to a material extent in the preparation of the report. | ||||
None | ||||
NB The list excludes: | ||||
1 Published works | ||||
2 Documents that disclose exempt or confidential information as defined in the Act | ||||