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 30 November 2007.

PRESENT:

Councillors: K. Chapman; R.J. Baulk; M.G. Cooper; E.F. Gale; D. Horne; R.J. Kimber;

R. McIntosh.

120 APOLOGIES

Apologies for absence were received from Councillor Keith House and Sam Payne.

121 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, save for exercising any right to speak in accordance with Paragraph 12 of the Code..

There were no declarations of interest made by Members under this item.

122 MINUTES

The Minutes of the meeting held on 21 September, 2007 were confirmed as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.

123 CHAIRMAN'S COMMUNICATIONS

The Chairman welcomed Kathy Bowden-Ellis as the recently appointed Equality and Diversity Manager. Bob Ratcliffe reported that it would be his last meeting of this Committee due to taking up a position in Strategic Projects and Specialist Response with effect from 3 December 2007. Also, it was noted that Susan Templeton, former Deputy Head of Human Resources, had left the Service.

The Chairman reported upon his attendance at a Seminar on 7 November 2007 entitled "The Impact of School Fires : A Study of the Wider Economic and Social Impacts on Schools and the Local Community". An Executive Summary highlighting some of the main findings of the study commissioned by the Local Government Association and the British Automatic Fire Sprinkler Association is appended to these Minutes for information .

124 DEPUTATIONS

There were no deputations made under this item.

125 ESTABLISHMENT

The Committee considered the report of the Chief Officer (Item 6 in the Minute Book) on the actual and authorised establishment as of 30 September 2007.

RESOLVED:

That the changes to the establishment under the Chief Officer's delegated powers, contained within the report be noted.

126 EQUALITY STANDARDS FOR LOCAL GOVERNMENT

The Integrated Risk Management Plan pledges a commitment to equality, communities and internal culture through the achievement of the Equality Standard Level 2 by April 2007 and Level 3 by October 2007. The Committee considered the report of the Chief Officer (Item 7 in the Minute Book) on the Authority's current progress in relation to the equalities agenda. Copies of the appendices inadvertently omitted as part of the report, were tabled at the meeting.

The Committee, in supporting the progress being made were concerned that it had not been possible to meet the Equality Standard Level 3 target by October 2007. Members were informed of those areas of work upon which the Service would now focus to achieve the Level 3 standard and agreed to extend this target date to December 2008. They also asked that the recommendations within the report be re-worded to conform with normal practice. Accordingly, it was

RESOLVED:

(a) That the Committee endorse the Service's commitment and investment to progress the equalities agenda and in particular measure progress against the requirements of the Equality Standard.

(b) That, in recognising the Integrated Risk Management Plan 2007 commitment to equality, communities and internal culture through the achievement of the Equality Standard Level 3 by October 2007 had not been met, the target date for this be extended to December 2008.

127 RETAINED DUTY SYSTEM STRATEGIC REVIEW PROJECT - PROGRESS REPORT

The Committee considered the report of the Chief Officer (Item 8 in the Minute Book) providing an update on the progress made following the Retained Duty System Review Project. Members asked to receive further six monthly progress reports.

RESOLVED:

(a) That the report be noted.

(b) That the Committee receive six monthly progress reports on the new Retained Duty System Strategy Project.

128 CHANGES TO FIREFIGHTERS COMPENSATION SCHEME AFFECTING SECOND CONTRACTS OF EMPLOYMENT

The Committee considered the report of the Chief Officer (Item 9 in the Minute Book) about the changes to the injury and provisions contained in the Firefighters Compensation Scheme (England) Order 2006 and how this affects employees with more than one contract of employment. Members wished to receive a further report on this at a later date.

RESOLVED:

(a) That the report be noted.

(b) That a further report on this matter be received by the Committee in twelve months time.

129 WORKFORCE STRATEGY MANAGEMENT INFORMATION PROJECT

The Committee considered the report of the Chief Officer (Item 10 in the Minute Book) on the progress of the Workforce Strategy Management Information Project.

RESOLVED:

(a) That the Committee notes the progress of the Workforce Strategy Management Information Project and its importance in delivering the Authority's Workforce Strategy.

(b) That the estimated potential financial implications be taken into account when the Authority considers its draft budget for 2008/09 to 2010/11.

130 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, the public interest in maintaining the exemption outweighs the public interest in disclosing the information for the reasons set out in the report.

131 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 a Principal Officer Pay Review matter.

[SUMMARY OF A MINUTE WHICH CONTAINS EXEMPT INFORMATION].

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