Archived decisions

Hampshire Fire and Rescue Authority Item 8

14 September 2005

Regional Management Board Update

Report of the Deputy Chief Officer

Contact: Dave Curry, Deputy Chief Officer Tel : 023 80 626 832

E-mail : [email protected]

1

Summary

1.1

This paper outlines the key issues arising from the South East Region Fire and Rescue Services Regional Management Board held on 13 July 2005.

2

Recommendation

2.1

That the report on the July 2005 meeting of the South East Fire and Rescue Services Regional Management Board and the update on the Regional Control Centre Project (Appendix 3) be noted.

3

Introduction

3.1

The Chairman, Cllr Cartwright, and Deputy Chief Officer Dave Curry, attended on this occasion. Cllr Price also attended the meeting as an observer.

3.2

The full set of agenda papers for the meeting can be accessed on the Authority's website at:

http://www.hantsfire.gov.uk/manage/rmb/july05/index.php

4

Agenda - key issues arising

4.1

Two items of urgent business were introduced by CFO Des Prichard as Clerk to the RMB :

· Firstly concerns were raised over the resourcing requirements of the Assessment and Development Centre process being introduced through a national project. CFO Iain Cox, as lead on the training workstream, supported these concerns and was asked to draft a letter to the national project to express these concerns.

· CFO Des Prichard also explained that he had met with regional representatives of the FBU in his role as Clerk to the RMB. It was agreed that workstream leaders would consider regional consultation as projects develop although the right of individual Fire Authority to consult was re-enforced. It was also noted that there were other recognised Representative Bodies through the region and these should also be considered for regional consultation.

4.2

A paper was presented by Hampshire, as lead of the HR workstream, which proposed the appointment of an HR advisor for the South East Region. Following some discussion in the pre-meeting, Cllr Murphy deferred the paper to the October RMB to allow further work to be undertaken on the costing model, method of employment and clarity of the work programme for the new post.

4.3

A discussion was held over the Regional Control Centre (RCC) Project. CFO Des Prichard as Clerk, advised the Board to show caution of publishing views at the present time in the light of the London bombings. He informed the meeting that the Regional Control Centre was part of the national critical infrastructure and he felt that Government would take the opportunity to re-enforce the resilience argument as well as the requirement for RMB's to play a full part in delivering Regional Control Centres. He advised that this provided the RMB with an opportunity for us to reflect this requirement with a re-confirmation of the concerns over the lack of a full business case and unrealistic time scales. It was agreed a letter would be sent from the RMB Chair and that individual members of the Board would raise these concerns through the RCC LGA representatives on the Fire Management Board. (Appendix 1 - Cllr Murphy's letter to Mr Clive Norris and Marie Winkler's response. Cllr M Cartwright's letter to Jerry Wilmott

The Project Manager of the Regional Control Centre Project (Anne Downing) gave an update of the progress and further information on the delays of announcing the location within the South East. She also highlighted the following issues :-

· The request from the national project group for more data regarding current activity of control staff, so that further work can be undertaken to estimate staffing numbers.

· That the South East Regional Control Centre Project Board had signed up in principle to a consistent approach to a number of HR issues.

· The South East Project Team were seeking further clarification regarding the TUPE arrangements that will apply.

· The National Project Group had appointed OGC to provide quality assurance to the national project. A request was made from the RMB to see the Terms Of Reference OGC would be working to.

· It was confirmed that a further version of the National Business Case was being developed.

· It was recommended that a small group of members be established to make urgent decisions regarding the project between RMB meetings. A discussion was held over this recommendation and it was agreed that email communications would be used up until the next RMB meeting and the Project Team were asked to present a specific paper on the proposal, which would be considered at the next meeting.

A Paper updating Members on the progress of the Regional Control Centre Project is attached as Appendix 3. This paper is included to facilitate a debate over this issue.

4.4

DCFO Charlie Hendry of Kent presented a CFS Best Practice Manual for the region. This work had been completed by the common and specialist services workstream. The RMB commended the work and suggested that it be forwarded to the RMB Chairs Meeting, GOSE, the Audit Commission and through CFOA National CFS Group to ensure this good practise is shared throughout the country.

4.5

The RMB Chairs Meeting was discussed and the notes of this meeting are attached at Appendix 2.

4.6

A paper was presented on Procurement Cards with a recommendation that these be signed up to regionally. This was agreed.

4.7

The South East Region Equalities and Fairness Strategy was presented by the Human Resource Development Group (HRDG). Discussion was held over the requirement to have a Regional Vision Statement. This was removed and the strategy approved. The Chair of the RMB was appointed as the champion of the Equalities and Fairness Strategy.

4.8

A paper was presented from the Training workstream on the development of a regional approach to NVQ's. The paper acknowledged the fact that three services in the south east currently have accredited centres for vocational qualifications (Hampshire being one) and recommended that no further centres were established until a regional framework had been established.

4.9

A second paper was presented by the Training workstream on "schemes of work" which recommended the approval of a regional framework for development of uniformed staff. This was agreed.

4.10

A South East RMB Communication Strategy was presented by Surrey, who have taken over the reference for RMB communications. Questions were raised over the necessity for specific branding and a dedicated news letter for the RMB. The overall Communication Strategy was agreed.

4.11

The Programme Manager (Mike McCarthy) reported on progress across all RMB projects within the region. The project number had reduced from 39 to 35 with 6 projects being completed within the last quarter. Mike reported that good progress was being made in all areas and he introduced a simplified system for Members to monitor progress based upon the Red, Amber, Green principle (RAG). (Progress report attached at Appendix 4).

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 considered in the light of the Race Relations (Amendment) Act 2000.

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

Note: The list excludes:

(1) Published works

(2) Documents that disclose exempt or confidential information as defined in the Act