AT A MEETING of the HAMPSHIRE FIRE AND RESCUE AUTHORITY HUMAN RESOURCES COMMITTEE held at Hampshire Fire and Rescue Service Headquarters, Eastleigh on 21 April, 2006.

PRESENT:

Councillors: K. Chapman (Chairman); R.J. Baulk; M.Cooper; E.F. Gale; D. Horne; R. Kimber; R.C. McIntosh.

34 APOLOGIES

Apologies for absence were received from Councillor Sam Payne.

35 DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST

Members were mindful that, where they believed they had a personal or personal prejudicial interest in any matter to be considered at the meeting, they should, normally at the time of debate, declare their interest and having regard to the circumstances described in paragraphs 9, 10, 11 and 12 of the Fire Authority's Code of Conduct consider whether to leave the meeting whilst the matter was discussed.

There were no declarations of interest made by members under this item.

36 MINUTES

The Minutes of the meeting held on 29 November, 2005 were confirmed as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.

37 DEPUTATIONS

There were no deputations made under this item.

38 WORKFORCE PLAN AND PEOPLE STRATEGY

The Committee were given a PowerPoint presentation by the Deputy Chief Officer explaining the significance of workforce planning and the various instruments that the Fire and Rescue Service had set up to enable the development of an effective people strategy. A copy of the PowerPoint presentation is shown as Item 5 in the Minute Book.

Members would receive the final version of the Workforce Plan and People Strategy at the next meeting of the Committee on 16 June 2006.

39 OUTCOMES OF GREY BOOK JOB EVALUATION

The Committee considered the report and presentation of the Chief Officer (Item 6 in the Minute Book) detailing the outcomes of the grey book job evaluation project. The Hampshire Fire and Rescue Service had formally moved to a role-based structure as opposed to the previous rank-based structure on 1 April 2006.

Members were concerned about staff whose posts had been matched to a pay scale different from their pre-job evaluation scale. The Committee were reassured that there would be three years' pay protection for those personnel whose posts had moved to a lower pay scale and for those whose posts had moved to a higher pay scale there would be back pay due from November 2003, or from the date they took up the new role if later than this.

RESOLVED:

That the outcomes and conclusion of the job evaluation project and the formal move from the rank-based structure to that of a role-based structure be noted.

40 MEDIUM TERM PLANS - OUTCOMES 2005/06 AND NEW PLANS FOR 2006/07

The Committee considered the report of the Chief Officer (Item 7 in the Minute Book) about the medium term plans of the Training Function and Human Resources Function for 2006/07. Hard copies of the plans were made available for Members to take away from the meeting.

Members looked forward to receiving updates on the progress of meeting objectives set out in the plans.

RESOLVED:

a) That the progress made by the Training Function and the Human Resources Function during 2005/06 be noted.

b) That the Medium Term Plans 2006/07 be noted.

41 ESTABLISHMENT

The Committee considered the report of the Chief Officer (Item 8 in the Minute Book) setting out the actual and authorised establishment as on 16 March 2006.

There was discussion around the implications of Hampshire Fire and Rescue Service being ten per cent under establishment in respect of Retained Duty System staff. The Deputy Chief Officer agreed that it did affect the Service and felt this was a key issue since it was becoming increasingly difficult to recruit retained personnel. He also assured Members that the Workforce Planning Steering Group were fully aware of this issue and directing the Retained Working Group to concentrate their work on recruitment of retained staff.


RESOLVED:


That the changes to the establishment made under the Chief Officer's delegated powers and as contained within the report, be noted.

42 UPDATE ON THE FIREFIGHTERS' PENSION SCHEME

The Committee considered the report of the Chief Officer (Item 9 in the Minute Book) informing Members of the changes that are being made to the existing Firefighters' Pension Scheme and the main provisions of the New Firefighters' Pension Scheme.

The Employee Relations Manager updated the Committee with regard to further information issued by the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister confirming that firefighters on the Retained Duty System will not be able to join the new pension scheme until October 2006, although they can backdate their membership to 6 April 2006 provided that they make the necessary contributions.

RESOLVED:

That the report be noted.

43 PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT REVIEW SYSTEM AND INVESTORS IN PEOPLE ACCREDITATION

The Committee considered the report of the Chief Officer (Item 10 in the Minute Book) setting out the progress made in gaining Investors in People accreditation and establishing the Personal Development Review System to replace the previous Personal Development Plan.

Members discussed the importance of both personal and professional development for staff and the appropriate weight given to each. It was noted that gaining Investors in People accreditation by April 2007 was a strategic objective of the Hampshire Fire and Rescue Service. Members considered the costs and benefits of having the accreditation: better trained staff may lead to a higher turnover of personnel, though the award would attract higher quality candidates and the organisation would gain overall with more skilled staff. The Committee were eager to achieve the Investors in People award and, moreover, to keep staff development a priority through the support of the continuous cycle of Investors in People audits.

RESOLVED:

That the development and introduction of a Personal Development Review System and the work within the Service to achieve Investors in People accreditation be endorsed.

44 UPDATE ON REGIONAL ISSUES

The Committee considered the verbal report of the Chief Officer giving an overview of the South East Regional Management Board meeting held on 5 April 2006, highlighting as particularly relevant to the Human Resources Committee, the agenda item updating the Board on the training strategy project.

45 FAIRNESS AND DIGNITY FORUM

The Committee considered the report of the Chief Officer (Item 12 in the Minute Book) summarising the Fairness and Dignity Forum held on 23 January 2006.

RESOLVED:

a) That the report be noted.

b) That the date and venue of the next meeting of the Fairness and Dignity Forum be noted as Thursday 18 May 2006 commencing at 1000 hours at Hightown Fire Station.