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 20 April, 2007.

PRESENT:

    Councillors: K. Chapman (Chairman); R.J. Baulk; M.G. Cooper; E.F. Gale; R.C. McIntosh; Sam Payne.

89 APOLOGIES

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors P. Galton and R.J. Kimber.

90 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.

91 MINUTES

The Minutes of the meeting held on 2 February, 2007 were confirmed as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.

    Matter Arising on Minute 82:

    Further to the reported changes to the senior personnel supporting the Committee, from 1 April 2007 the Service implemented the introduction of four new Directorates headed by the following senior managers:

      · Corporate Services - David Howells

      · Human Resources - ACO Bob Ratcliffe

      · Service Delivery - DCO Dave Curry

      · Strategic Projects and Specialist Response - DCFO Alan House

    Following an Assessment and Development Centre process four new Area Manager appointments have also been confirmed within the Service Delivery Directorate.

92 DEPUTATIONS

There were no deputations made under this item.

93 PUBLICATION OF THE HFRS GENDER EQUALITY SCHEME

    The Committee considered the report of the Chief Officer (Item 5 in the Minute Book) presenting the draft Gender Equality Scheme for Hampshire Fire and Rescue Service for approval. The Committee congratulated Officers on a well-written document, and it was therefore,

    RESOLVED

    1. That, the legal requirement placed upon the Authority to publish a Gender Equality Scheme in order to comply with the Sex Discrimination Act 1975, as amended by the Equality Act 2006, be recognised.

    2. That, the Gender Equality Scheme be accepted as a mechanism for not only ensuring legal compliance, but also for promoting best practice in gender equality.

    3. That, it be a RECOMMENDATION to the Authority to formally adopt the Gender Equality Scheme.

94 RETAINED DUTY SYSTEM STRATEGIC REVIEW PROJECT - PROGRESS REPORT

    The Committee considered the report of the Chief Officer (Item 6 in the Minute Book) on the progress of the review into the Retained Duty System. The review was originally commissioned in April 2006 by the Senior Management Team as part of the IRMP, it is scheduled to bring forward recommendations in June 2007.

    RESOLVED

    That the report, and the risk posed by new National Firefighter Selection Tests, be noted.

95 RE-EMPLOYMENT OF GREEN BOOK EMPLOYEES FOLLOWING RETIREMENT

    The Committee considered the report of the Chief Officer (Item 7 in the Minute Book) offering Green Book employees direct re-employment following retirement. The Committee discussed the fairness and equality benefits of harmonising Green and Grey Book re-employment conditions, as well as the national picture on the subject.

    RESOLVED

    1. That, the Green Book employees be offered direct re-employment following retirement in line with arrangements for Grey Book employees.

    2. That, a review take place at the end of 2007 to consider the impact on the workforce profile.

96 ESTABLISHMENT

    The Committee considered the report of the Chief Officer (Item 7 in the Minute Book) setting out the actual and authorised establishment of the Service as of 28 February 2007. There were no significant changes to the figures since they were last reported, though attention was drawn to the continuing fall in number of retained firefighter vacancies.

    RESOLVED

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

97 FAIRNESS AND DIGNITY FORUM: 1 MARCH 2007

    The Committee considered the report of the Chief Officer (Item 8 in the Minute Book) summarising the meeting of the Fairness and Dignity Fourm held at St. Mary's Fire Station on 1 March, 2007.

    RESOLVED

    1. That, the report be noted.

    2. That, the next meeting of the Fairness and Dignity Forum on 21 June, 2007 at 1000 hours at Fareham Fire Station be noted.

98 ORAL UPDATES ON CURRENT HUMAN RESOURCES ISSUES

    The Committee noted the Chief Officer's oral report on the Regional Management Board held on 4 April, 2007: that the Chairman of the Authority, Councillor M.F. Cartwright, was appointed Chairman of the Board for the coming year and that the Regional Human Resources Strategy for the South East, supported by Hampshire and CFO Bonney, was approved.

99 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.

100 REPORT OF THE PRINCIPAL OFFICER PAY REVIEW GROUP

    The Committee considered the exempt report of the Chairman of the Principal Officer Pay Review Group (Item 12 in the Minute Book) on the Group's decision in respect of Principal Officer pay for 2007.

    [SUMMARY OF A MINUTE WHICH CONTAINS CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION]