Hampshire Fire and Rescue Authority

Performance Review Committee Item

9 March 2005

Progress Report on the Best Value Review of Vehicle Workshops

Report of Chief Officer

Contact: Philip Webb, Performance Review Manager

Telephone: 023 8062 6828

E-mail: [email protected]

Summary

The Best Value Review of Vehicle Workshops has now been completed and the draft report is attached.

Recommendations

1. That the outcomes and recommendations of the Best Value Review of Vehicle Workshops be endorsed and presented to the Authority for formal approval at its meeting on 1 June 2005.

2. That it be noted that a business case for the potential to relocate the vehicle workshops to the Headquarters site will be presented to the Finance and General Purposes Committee at its meeting on 26 April 2005.

Introduction

Completion of this review was delayed by areas of work requiring further investigation that were identified during the review. Additional evidence was collated following the investigation and the draft report has been scrutinised by the Working and Steering groups.

Contribution to Corporate Aims and Objectives

Facilities to manage the repair and maintenance of the vehicle fleet and associated equipment are essential in assisting the HFRA to meet its corporate aims. This is particularly so where the Service has to respond to an emergency.

Consultation

The Best Value Review of Workshops involved consultation with other fire and rescue services and outside contractors who have experience in maintaining various categories of vehicles and who can install essential non-mechanical equipment to vehicles, e.g. radios, phones, blue lights, etc.

Equality Impact Assessment

Carrying out equality impact assessments will strengthen our best value review practices by ensuring that the consequences of our proposed policies and actions comply with current legislation and expectations for improving equality and diversity in the workplace and in our delivery of services to the public.

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

Risk Analysis

Failure to implement the recommendations made by the review leave the Authority vulnerable to the consequences of the identified risks and shortcomings. These progress reports are considered to be an important process within the Authority's strategic risk management strategy because they ensure that Members are fully aware of any problems (including any resource implications) associated with addressing the issues raised and the priority given to driving down or eliminating specific risks.

Background information (Section 100D of Local Government Act 1972)

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

Note: The list excludes: (1) published works; and (2) documents that disclose exempt or confidential information defined in the Act.