Hampshire Fire and Rescue Authority

Item 15

8 December 2004

HFRA - Scheme of Delegation to Officers

Report of the Chief Fire Officer

Contact:

Wendy Lambert, Financial and Office Services Manager

Tel: 023 8064 4000 Ext 5006

1

Introduction

1.1

To ensure the efficient day-to-day management of the Authority's activities it is necessary to have a Scheme of Delegation of responsibilities to its officers.

1.2

The Scheme that has been in place since the formation of the Authority in April 1997 has been reviewed and updated to enable the Authority to manage effectively within the Fire and Rescue Service National Framework, the revised terms and conditions for Uniformed ("Grey Book") staff and new legislation in the form of the Fire Services Act 2004 and the Regulatory Reform Order.

1.3

The revised Scheme of Delegation is attached as Appendix 1.

2

Risk Assessment

The need to set out clear lines of responsibility and accountability in a Scheme of Delegation to officers is an important component of the Authority's corporate governance framework.

2.2

The Scheme is also a critical control measure in reducing the Authority's vulnerability to fraud and misuse of resources.

3

Principal Changes

3.1

The White Paper, setting out the Government's vision for the fire and rescue service, is very explicit in its approach to management and suggests that Fire and Rescue Authorities should set policy and be accountable for the direction and performance of the Service, but that Chief Officers and senior service managers should have operational responsibility for day-to-day management in accordance with those policies, thereby delivering a better service to the community.

3.2

Dispute resolution and dealing with grievance and disciplinary matters have previously been the responsibility of the elected members and have often led to matters being elevated to too a high level too quickly. The agreed changes to the Grey Book allow for these matters to be resolved locally and at the lowest practicable level.

3.3

To enable the management changes to take place the Chief Officer is authorised "to take decisions and exercise discretion on matters of personnel, development, disputes, grievances, discipline, health and safety, compensation and general conditions of service as set out in the Authority's Service Orders relating to employment policies and procedures." (Section C - paragraph 5.1)

3.4

However, the Authority will have a role, as defined in the Grievance and Discipline Procedures, should a senior manager submit a grievance or be the subject of disciplinary action (Section A - paragraph 16).

4

Resource Implications

4.1

There are no significant resource implications associated with implementing the revised Scheme. However, there will be need to provide training to Members and senior officers to ensure that all are sufficiently aware of the protocols and procedures contained within the Scheme. This will be undertaken in conjunction with Internal Audit staff and delivered at the same time as training on the revised set of Financial Regulations (due to be presented to the January meeting of the Finance and General Purposes Committee).

5

European Convention on Human Rights and the Human Rights Act 1998

5.1

The proposals within this report are compatible with the provisions of the European Convention on Human Rights and the Human Rights Act 1998, and the Race Relations (Amendment) Act 2000.

Recommendations

That the Authority approves the Scheme of Delegation.

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

File ref: Secretarial/WP/Word/Corporate/HFRA: HFRA 8 12 04 Scheme of Delegation WL/JMW/29/11/2004