Archived decisions

AT A MEETING of the HAMPSHIRE FIRE AND RESCUE AUTHORITY HUMAN RESOURCES COMMITTEE held at Hampshire Fire and Rescue Service Headquarters, Eastleigh on 2 February, 2007.

PRESENT:

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

79 APOLOGIES

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors P. Galton, Keith House, L.J. Hunt, and Sam Payne.

80 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.

81 MINUTES

The Minutes of the meeting held on 1 December, 2006 were confirmed as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.

82 CHAIRMAN'S COMMUNICATIONS

The Chairman reported the departure of Shella Smith, Employee Relations, to Southeast Employers and led the Committee in thanking her for her hard work and dedication over the past 6 years. Members wished her every success in her new role.

    The Chairman informed Members of changes to senior personnel supporting the Committee resulting from the review of the Service Management Team last Autumn. DCO Dave Curry and T/ACO Charlie House would be moving across to Service Delivery on 1 April 2007 and, therefore, would no longer have a direct responsibility to the Committee. Members sincerely thanked both officers for their support to the HR function of the Service and wished them well in their new roles. Members looked forward to working with ACO Bob Ratcliffe who would become the temporary Director of Human Resources and with AM Mark Rayner, Head of Training and Development.

    The Chairman reported that the Service had begun the process of appointment for the new Director of Human Resources, with an anticipated start date of Autumn 2007.

    The Chairman suggested, and the Committee agreed, a tour of the Service's new Headquarters training facilities prior to the next meeting of the Committee on 20 April.

83 DEPUTATIONS

    There were no deputations made under this item.

84 ESTABLISHMENT

    The Committee considered the report of the Chief Officer (Item 6 in the Minute Book) setting out the actual and authorised establishment of the Service as of 31 December 2006. There had been no significant changes to the figures since they were last reported.

    RESOLVED

    That the changes to the establishment under the Chief Officer's delegated powers be noted.

85 LONG SERVICE INCREMENT AND CONTINUAL PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT

    The Committee considered the report of the Chief Officer (Item 7 in the Minute Book) updating Members on the proposals to replace Long Service Increments (LSI) with the Continual Professional Development (CPD) system. If there is final agreement on the proposals at the National Joint Council on 6 February 2007 then the proposals would be introduced in July 2007.

    While Members recognised the importance of eliminating inherent age discrimination within the existing arrangements and supported professional development, there were a number of reservations which the Committee had about the new system. The scheme was intended to be cost-neutral, but on current information the new scheme would cost more than the existing funds allocated to LSI. The CPD system would not align with the existing national Integrated Personal Development System or Hampshire's own Personal Development Review System. A significant increase in administration time would be required to verify and process individual employee's applications to the CPD system.

    Though the Service has not been a part of the consultation process the Chairman of the Authority sent a letter expressing the above concerns to Ms Gill Gittins the Principal Negotiating Officer.

    RESOLVED

    1. That, the report and the potential resource implications associated with the proposed new system of Continual Professional Development be noted.

    2. That, the Committee regret that the new system is not cost-neutral and that the letter of the Chairman of the Authority dated 25 January 2007, attached as an appendix to these minutes, be endorsed.

86 VERBAL UPDATE ON THE REGIONAL MANAGEMENT BOARD

    The Committee considered the verbal update of the Deputy Chief Officer on the human resources matters arising at the last meeting of the Regional Management Board (RMB), held on 17 January 2007.

    The RMB considered an item on the South East Human Resources Partnership, a collaboration of nine Fire and Rescue Authorities in the region. The initial aim of the partnership was initially to address the introduction of new National Firefighter Selection tests, and Assessment and Development Centres for existing staff across the region. Both activities are fundamental elements of the Integrated Personal Development System (IPDS) and have considerable resource implications. The collective approach has proven to be an effective mechanism in moving forward complex projects and the partnership has attracted some capacity building funding. The partnership was now looking at other areas which could capitalise on this early success.

87 EXCLUSION OF THE PRESS AND PUBLIC

    RESOLVED

    That, the public be excluded from the meeting during the following item of business, as it is likely, in view of the nature of the business to be transacted or the nature of the proceedings, that if members of the public were present during that item there would be disclosure to them of exempt information within Paragraph 3 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A to the Local Government Act 1972, and further that in all the circumstances of the case, the public interest in maintaining the exemption outweighs the public interest in disclosing the information, for the reasons set out in the report.

88 PRINCIPAL OFFICERS' LOCAL PAY AGREEMENT AND IMPLICATIONS FOR THE NEW SERVICE MANAGEMENT TEAM STRUCTURE

    The Committee considered the confidential report of the Chairman of the Principal Officers' Pay Review Group (Item 9 in the Minute Book) on the Group's findings and recommendations in regard to a local pay agreement for principal officers and associated issues in relation to the new Service Management Team structure.

    [SUMMARY OF A MINUTE WHICH CONTAINS CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION]