Hampshire Fire and Rescue Authority Appendix 1B

Performance Review Committee

15/03/200515 March 2007

Review of Fleet Management and Workshops Management StructureError! Bookmark not defined.

Report by Deputy Chief Officer Alan House

Contact: Deputy Chief Officer Alan House (Tel: 023 8062 6831)

1

Background

1.1

As requested by the Performance Review Committee, a review of the current Workshops/Fleet Management structure was conducted in November 2006 with the assistance of the Deputy Head of HR.

1.2

The review was conducted with the knowledge that the decision had already been taken to remove 2 of the management team posts after they had become vacant in 2006, following the lessons learned during the Best Value review.

1.3

The review team considered the outcomes of the Best Value Review and how the future of the Workshops would be affected by moving to a new purpose built facility. During the process full consideration was given to the history of the Fleet Management and Workshops Structure, how it had performed pre-BV review, how it was performing now and what the future may bring.

1.4

The options considered were:

· Keep existing structure, (with the reduction of the identified Workshops Management posts identified in 2006)

· Combine existing Fleet and Workshops Management Teams.

· Keep post BV Review structure but co-locate Fleet Team with Workshops team.

The team considered the perceived benefits, dis-benefits and impacts of the options.

2

Existing Structure

2.1

This "customer/contractor" arrangement works very well with clear and focussed roles. This was originally established in 1989 as part of the planning for Compulsory Competitive Tendering (CCT). When CCT was no longer applicable to the Fire and Rescue Service it was decided not to revert the structure as it had proven itself as an effective structure for the HFRS fleet. There are clear accountability lines and identified targets which, it was felt by the Review Team, assisted best value monitoring. The clearly identified roles allow each manager to focus on respective responsibilities. This is very important in respect of fleet operator legislation and health and safety matters. Having the Fleet Manager as a `customer' assists with quality assurance and provides a platform of challenge which assists with performance targets and accountability. It was seen to be this structure that was hugely responsible for HFRS having one of the highest standard fleets in the UK and was seen to be a large contributor to the outcome of the BV review.

3

Combination of Existing Management Teams

3.1

A combination of the existing teams could be complemented and obviously could be made to work but this would remove the perceived "customer/contractor" advantages. It was identified that all of the functions and roles currently performed by both of the management teams would still have to be achieved and that it was very unlikely that there would be scope for any further reduction in staff. In fact it was thought likely that it would be necessary to increase the team by one member and that the necessary job evaluations would likely lead to a regrading of the senior line manager.

The review team could not identify any benefits that were so great that a combination would have a marked improvement on the overall management or cost of the HFRS fleet.

4

Co-Location of Teams

4.1

When the new Workshops is built the administration wing has already been designed to accommodate both the existing Workshops team and the existing Fleet management team. This will improve communication lines, facilitate easier joint working with the Fleet Management System and retain the benefits of the "customer/contractor" structure.

5

Recommendation

5.1

Taking into account that during 2006 following the Best Value Review the decision was taken to reduce the Workshops management team by 2 posts and also that no clear advantages were identified for combination, it is recommended that the existing (2007) structure remains, with co-location of the 2 teams into the same building when the new Workshops is occupied.

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.