Archived decisions

Hampshire Fire and Rescue Authority Item

12 December 2007

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

Report by the Chief Officer

Contact: Chief Officer John Bonney - [email protected] (Tel: 02380 626830)

1

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 10 October 2007.

1.2

It is worth noting that a number of papers brought forward to the SERMB contained proposals in connection with the establishment of the Local Authority Controlled Company (LACC). As members will be aware, governance arrangements will be assumed by the LACC who undertakes responsibility for the operation of the Regional Control Centre (RCC) and reports directly to fire and rescue authorities rather than through the Regional Management Board.

2

RecommendationError! Bookmark not defined.

2.1

That the report be noted.

3

Equality Review Update

3.1

Doug Feery, from the Improvement and Development Agency gave a presentation outlining the equality review project being undertaken within the South East Fire and Rescue Services. He advised members that the project aimed to deliver an equality improvement plan for each fire and rescue authority, setting out steps each Service would need to take to achieve Level 3. It was highlighted that only one local authority and one fire authority in England had to date achieved level 3. Doug Feery reported that engagement had been positive with all fire and rescue authorities having demonstrated some level of commitment and understanding of the process.

This project is funded by capacity building funding. Hampshire Fire and Rescue Service were the first to receive a review and are currently awaiting feedback following this process.

4

Progress Against the Plan

4.1

The Board considered a progress report for the period July-September 2007 against each of the work streams in the regional business plan. It was noted that good progress had been made across all workstreams and the following resolutions were made;

· That the progress made be noted.

· That the recent newsletter issued by SEFIP on equality and diversity be noted.

5

Update on Regional Control Centre (RCC) and Firelink Projects

5.1

CFO Burrell (West Sussex) gave a presentation updating the Board on the Regional Control Centre and FireLink projects. The Board were advised that the completion of the Centre was due 14 May 2008 and transition plans were currently being developed. In determining the full operating costs, CFO Burrell reminded Members of the need to take account of `out of scope' and `in scope' activities, i.e. all costs that would remain with fire and rescue authorities after cut over.

5.2

The LACC Shadow Company had been incorporated on 14 August 2007 and the first meeting of the LACC Board took place on 8 November. Members will recall that Councillor Roger Price was appointed as the LACC member for Hampshire. Unfortunately he was unable to attend this preliminary formal meeting and therefore Councillor Michael Cartwright deputised on this occasion.

6

Fire Control Project Progress Report - TUPE

6.1

CFO Burrell (West Sussex) presented a report that sought agreement on a common approach across the SE region as to whether the RCC or individual FRAs should make the redundancies within the nine fire and rescue services within the south east. Having obtained legal advice from both the South East Regional Legal Advisor and Denton Wilde Sapte, who provide legal advice to Communities and Local Government (CLG), the report recommended the Local Authority Controlled Company make the redundancies. By adopting a common approach, fire and rescue services within the South East region reduce the possibility of legal and union challenge.

6.2

East Sussex Fire and Rescue Service expressed concern that legal advice may change before the cut over point and therefore felt that the RMB should refrain from making a decision until this time. It was therefore agreed that the Regional Management Board would note the TUPE Regulations 2006 and opt, in principle, for the Local Authority Controlled Company to make the redundancies. However, it was suggested that local Fire and Rescue Services may wish to consider other options in the interim period.

7

Cost Sharing Arrangements for Regional Control Centre

7.1

A report was put forward by CFO Burrell (West Sussex) seeking agreement on the basis in which the cost of the Regional Control Centre was apportioned between the individual fire authorities in the South East once cut over was complete.

7.2

The Fire Finance Working Group initially proposed a formula based on two variables, population and call numbers, however, after further consideration it was agreed that it would be more appropriate to use population alone as the calculation to assist with long term planning. This recommendation was agreed and it was resolved that it would be referred to the Local Authority Controlled Company for review at an appropriate time.

8

South East Fire and Rescue Control Centre Limited

8.1

The Board approved the formulation of the Local Authority Controlled Company and, as part of that approval, confirmation of the Members' Agreement and the Memorandum and Articles of Association.

8.2

Some debate took place as to whether a cabinet member or Chair of a Fire Authority could sit as a Director on the LACC. Original guidance from the CLG advised against this, however Peter Betts, who attended the meeting, advised that it was a matter for each fire and rescue authority to determine and that if a conflict of interest were to arise, it would need to be declared.

9

FiReControl Project Progress Report - RCCD Director Recruitment

9.1

A report was presented to the Board which sought agreement on the recruitment and selection process for the new vacancy of Regional Control Centre Director. Members were also provided with the Terms and Conditions and advertisement for the position and advised that the successful candidate would be employed by West Sussex County Council until the Regional Control Centre goes live in 2010. The appointee would then transfer under TUPE to the new LACC. CFO Martin Burrell reported that the costs were being met by the CLG until the cut over in 2010. The Board agreed the process of recruitment and the Terms and Conditions of employment. It was also agreed that the LACC should review both the salary and Terms and Conditions at a suitable future date. The final interview panel shall consist of two Local Authority Controlled Company Directors, the SE FiReControl Lead and a member of the national team.

10

RCC - Appointment of a Regional Treasurer and Legal Support to the LACC and Joint Project Board (JPB)

10.1

The Board were asked to consider whether a Treasurer's post was required to be established for the LACC. A report put forward outlined the growing need for the provision of legal advice to the LACC and the SE Firelink and FiReControl Joint Project Board. It was proposed that the new post would be funded from New Burdens funding, with any residual being shared amongst the nine fire and rescue services. The Board agreed that financial advice was required. Rather than appoint a Regional Treasurer it was agreed that recruitment of a Regional Financial Advisor would commence immediately and agreement be given to `buying in' legal advice to the LACC and the SE Firelink and FiReControl Joint Project Board.

11

Presentation by Peter Betts, Director of Fire and Resilience (CLG)

11.1

Peter Betts attended the RMB having accepted an invitation from the Chairman. He referred to his letter on Cumulative Demands on the Fire and Rescue Service (24 August 2007) which he advised was sent in response to a collective view amongst all Services that CLG did not appreciate the sheer scale of the demands being placed upon them. He felt his letter acknowledged that concern and outlined how CLG could better take account of the increasing burdens. Peter Betts then began by outlining the forthcoming priorities for the Fire ad Resilience Directorate (appendix A).

11.2

Members of the Board put forward a number of questions to Peter Betts. The first centred upon the government's equality targets which Members felt the majority of fire and rescue services were experiencing difficulty achieving. Peter Betts assured the Board that CLG were aware of the difficulty and hoped that these targets would in future be based on recruitment figures and local populations. Other issues discussed included Firelink and whether CLG were considering a joint approach across the emergency services. Peter Betts advised that the Firelink project was one example and that future consideration would be given to see whether joint working could be achieved in some areas.

11.3

Peter Betts advised that the new National Framework document would be issued in November for the next three years and will set out government's expectations for fire and rescue services. He reassured the Board that CLG had tried to make it a shorter, sharper document focussing more upon outcomes than detailed processes. This document will come into force in the Spring of next year.

11.4

A brief reference was made of the proposed consultation on a Centre of Excellence, an improvement and development agency for the fire and rescue service, owned by local government and fire and rescue services collectively. Consultation on this proposal has now commenced.

12

Capacity Building Bid

12.1

The Board approved a second bid to the capacity building fund, being made by the South East Fire Improvement Partnership on behalf of the SE RMB. The bid was split into three sections; the first amount of £320k has been identified to enable to meet the needs of the National Framework for Fire and Rescue Authorities, £340k for joint working and £300k for building capacity across the region. It was agreed that the authority be delegated to the Chairman of the work area to amend the detail of the bid in the light of outcomes arising from the Comprehensive Spending Review 2007.

13

Development of a Regional Procurement Strategy

13.1

DCFO Smyth (Oxfordshire) presented a report on progress being made in developing a Regional Procurement Strategy. It was noted that the strategy would aim to bring key collaborative opportunities to each fire and rescue authorities, but that each would determine whether or not to sign up to the strategy, which had been influenced by the National Procurement Board. It was resolved that the headline areas through which collaborative work will add value for constituent fire and rescue authorities be approved, that the final strategy would be brought to the RMB in April 2008 and that the current procurement action plan and autumn regional procurement update be noted.

14

Sprinkler Campaigns Update

14.1

A report was submitted following work carried out by Kent and Medway Fire and Rescue Authority in relation to the negative perceptions towards the installation of domestic sprinklers. The report also highlighted work which had been carried out by Hampshire Fire and Rescue Authority. Members were issued with a briefing pack and advised that Kent would be launching their Sprinkler Campaign on 16 November.

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 10 October 2007.