AT A MEETING of the HAMPSHIRE FIRE AND RESCUE FIRE AUTHORITY PERSONNEL COMMITTEE held at Hampshire Fire Headquarters on 17 December 2003

PRESENT

Councillors: K. Chapman (in the Chair); R. Baulk; P. Galton; Mrs D. Harrison;

D. Horne; D.A. Kirk; R. MacKintosh; K.P.J. Searle

109 APOLOGIES

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors: E.F. Gale MBE, and G Semmens.

110 DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST

There were no declarations of interest reported on this item.

111 MINUTES

The Minutes of the meeting held on 12 September, 2003 were confirmed as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.

112 FIRE FIGHTERS PAY AWARD AND ASSOCIATED TRANSITION FROM RANK TO ROLE

The Committee received a presentation and also considered the report of the Chief Fire Officer (Item 5 in the Minute Book) appraising members of the latest position in relation to the settlement of the fire-fighters pay award and the associated modernisation programme.

The Chief Fire Officer explained the proposed approach to rank to role assimilation and the resultant organisational re-design. It was noted that a complete pay assimilation process had commenced and there was an intention to carry out a second phase job evaluation process.

It was pointed out that the evaluation process to be undertaken within the context of the developing Integrated Risk Management Plan (IRMP) would have a clear impact on resources. Accordingly the Committee were asked to note a proposed budget bid to undertake the detailed job evaluation exercise.


RESOLVED:

(i) That the proposed approach to rank to role assimilation and the intention to carry

out a second phase job evaluation process be noted.

(ii) That the proposal for a budget bid in relation to this job evaluation exercise be noted.

113 ESTABLISHMENT

The Committee considered the report of the Chief Fire Officer (Item 6 in the Minute Book) detailing the establishment position as at 1 December 2003.

It was noted that there was an usual situation of over establishment due mainly to industrial action and lack of clarity regarding pay awards which was affecting the number of employees retiring from service. It was however envisaged that the over establishment situation would level off when the uncertainties had been resolved. In the meantime the January 2004 trainee course had been cancelled in response to this slower than expected turnover of staff.

In considering the report the Committee requested that in future the "Retained Establishment" section identify 24 hour equivalent of the retained establishment.

The Chief Fire Officer also reported that the service was reviewing the establishment control processes to ensure variations were reported at the earliest opportunity to the Committee.


RESOLVED:

That the changes to the establishment and the new audit system for tracking establishment changes be noted.

114 EXCLUSION OF PRESS AND PUBLIC

RESOLVED:

That, by virtue of paragraphs 1 and 11 of part 1 of Schedule 12a of the Local Government Act 1972, the press and public be excluded from the meeting during consideration of the following item.

115 SENIOR DIVISIONAL OFFICERS PAYMENT : CORPORATE RESPONSIBILITY ALLOWANCE (CONFIDENTIAL)

The Committee considered the confidential report of the Chief Fire Officer (Item 7 in the Minute Book) recommending the payment of an interim corporate responsibility allowance for each of the current 4 Senior Divisional Officers to reflect the additional corporate burden placed upon them and that this allowance continue until the job evaluation exercise to be undertaken as part of Phase II rank to role assimilation.

RESOLVED:

(i) That, the payment of an interim corporate responsibility allowance as set out in

the report be approved.

(ii) That, the payment of the corporate responsibility allowance continue until the job evaluation exercise to be undertaken as part of Phase II rank to role assimilation.