Archived decisions

Hampshire Fire and Rescue Authority Item

26 September 2007

Error! Bookmark not defined.South East Fire and Rescue Services Regional Management Board - Update

Report by the Chief Officer

Contact: Tel: 02380 626833 [email protected]

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Summary

1.1

This report outlines the key issues arising from the South East Fire and Rescue Services' Regional Management Board (SERMB) meeting held on Wednesday 11 July 2007. The Chairman was accompanied by David Howells, Director of Corporate Services on this occasion.

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RecommendationError! Bookmark not defined.

2.1

That the report be noted.

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Main items of interest:

3.1

Members away day - 11 & 12 September 2007

Marianne Abley and Chris Bowron from the Improvement and Development Agency (I&DeA) gave a short presentation about the purpose and arrangements for this event. Essentially, Board members would take a strategic look at individuals' strengths within the Board, different ways of working, and how Members can work together to improve the effectiveness of the RMB. The Chairman will give an oral update on the outcomes at the meeting.

3.2

Progress against the business plan

The Board considered a progress report for the period April to June 2007 against each of the work streams in the regional business plan. It was noted that, in general, good progress was being made. The following resolutions were made:

_ That the recent newsletters issued by the South East Fire Improvement Partnership on the peer review brokering service and the launch of the SEFIP website be noted;

_ That the appointment of the lead Member for the Improvement work stream to the regional Improvement and Efficiency Board be approved;

_ That the appointment of the Chairman of the RMB to the regional Improvement and Efficiency Board - in the event of absence of the Chairman of the Improvement work stream - be approved;

_ That the intention to seek associate membership of the South East England Regional Assembly be noted.

3.3

Update on Regional Control Centre (RCC) and Firelink projects

CFO Burrell (West Sussex) gave a presentation updating Members on the Regional Control Centre and FireLink projects.

It was noted that the Isle of Wight had now decided to join the Local Authority Controlled Company (LACC) and this would be set up within the next few weeks. Decisions still had to be made about cost apportionment and the transfer of staff and it was noted that CLG confirmed that it would meet the costs of any redundancies and employment tribunals. A Director would be recruited as quickly as possible, with the initial costs being borne by Government, but CLG were reviewing the job description and person specification to try and attract more candidates.

It was also noted that, although the long-awaited `business case' had been published, a further version was due out imminently with revised figures.

3.4

Resilience and associated funding issues

CFO Smith (Buckinghamshire) gave a presentation updating Members on the Governments current plans for managing resilience and the associated funding issues. It was noted that there was now a `Fire Resilience Co-ordinator' supported by two assistants. Some £300m had been spent to date by Government, but there was limited revenue for future years. The six national capabilities had been identified as:

_ mass decontamination

_ urban search and rescue

_ water and water safety

_ command and control ( National Co-ordination Centre [NCC] in West Yorkshire, plus Incident Command Vehicle)

_ logistics

_ long term management arrangements ( management of New Dimensions assets for the next 16 years)

It was noted that there were problems with funding the three operational capabilities, but there was capacity to respond to three catastrophic events in three different locations simultaneously. The programme arrangements should be complete by the end of March 2008 following which various assets would be transferred to Fire & Rescue Authorities.

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:

· Agenda, reports and draft minutes of the South East Fire and Rescue Services Regional Management Board meeting held 11 July 2007