Archived decisions
AT A MEETING of the HAMPSHIRE FIRE AND RESCUE AUTHORITY PERFORMANCE REVIEW AND SCRUTINY COMMITTEE held at Hampshire Fire and Rescue Service Headquarters, Eastleigh on 5 March 2008.
PRESENT:
Councillors: D.A. Kirk (Chairman); R.J. Baulk; I.F.E. Beagley; K.G. Chapman; L.T. Dunsdon; Sam Payne.
103 APOLOGIES
Apologies for absence were received from Councillor D. Simpson.
104 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.
105 MINUTES
The Minutes of the meeting held on 27 November, 2007 were confirmed as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.
106 DEPUTATIONS
There were no deputations made under this item.
107 BEST VALUE PERFORMANCE INDICATORS AND LOCAL PERFORMANCE INDICATORS
The Committee considered the report of the Chief Officer (Item 5 in the Minute Book) highlighting several of the `flight deck' performance indicators data for the third quarter 2007/08.
Members noted continued good performance on a number of indicators, and in particular the achievement of Equality Standard Level 2. The Committee agreed that more stringent targets should be considered for a number of indicators (BV149i and BV206iv). Progress in improving the number of women firefighters (BV210) was again disappointing. Members felt that there was a need to look at the approach taken to improve the recruitment of women and black and minority ethnic firefighters, in particular the methodology and targeting of recruitment campaigns. It was noted that the target of 20,000 Home Fire Safety Visits carried out by HFRS (LPI1) had been achieved, but was not reflected in the indicator due to data entry problems. It was anticipated that these problems would be resolved shortly, and would not reoccur.
RESOLVED:
That the performance of the HFRS for the indicators being reported be noted and that the strategies to meet the targets be endorsed.
108 RECOMMENDATIONS AND ACTIONS ARISING FROM INTERNAL AUDIT REPORTS
The Committee considered the report of the Chief Officer (Item 6 in the Minute Book) on the progress against internal audit recommendations. In future, these updates would be reported to the Governance Committee. Significant progress had been made, with no outstanding actions, and a significant number of actions completed.
Members were pleased to note the significant progress made and praised the Officers involved.
RESOLVED:
That the internal audit action reports and progress made towards the implementation of the recommendations for improvement be noted.
109 PROGRESS REPORT ON ACTIONS TAKEN TO MEET THE RECOMMENDATIONS DETAILED IN THE REPORT OF THE BEST VALUE REVIEW OF SERVICE LEVEL AGREEMENTS WITH HAMPSHIRE COUNTY COUNCIL
The Committee considered the report of the Chief Officer (Item 7 in the Minute Book) on the progress made to meet the recommendations in the Best Value Review of Service Level Agreements with Hampshire County Council. Progress had been slower than expected but, as a result of a recent meeting with the new Chief Executive, it was expected that faster progress would be made towards agreeing an overarching Service Level Agreement, to tie all the lower level agreements together.
RESOLVED:
That the updated Action Plan be approved and that the Committee receives further
reports on progress.
110 PROGRESS REPORT ON THE BEST VALUE REVIEW OF ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT
The Committee considered the report of the Chief Officer (Item 8 in the Minute Book) on the progress made in the Best Value Review of Environmental Impact. Following a change of secondee as Environmental Progress Coordinator a number of `quick wins' had been identified and acted upon. Significant issues had been identified with Headquarters energy usage during the early hours of the morning, when energy usage should have been significantly lower than was the case. In response, late night inspections of office spaces had shown that this was in part due to a number of electronic devices, such as computers and monitors, being left on. Additionally, energy use targets would be rolled out to stations, as part of the `Beacon Station' programme. Internal Audit had been asked to undertake a review of car user schemes to identify the options and to consider as part of their deliberations the effect such schemes might have on the environment. Members were pleased to note the positive interest and support among staff to the review, and discussed several possible ideas for promoting environmental awareness, including departmental environmental champions.
RESOLVED:
That the progress to date be approved and further reports on progress be received.
111 IMPROVEMENT PLANNING REGISTER
The Committee considered the report of the Chief Officer (Item 9 in the Minute Book) on the latest update of `Part One' of the Improvement Planning Register. A new format for the Register would be adopted that would be clearer and easier to use. A number of completed items remained on the Register, and were expected to be discharged at the June meeting of the Fire Authority. It was also proposed that in future the Register would be reported to the Corporate Management Team (CMT), rather than to the joint Member/Officer Steering Board.
Members expressed the concern that that CMT would not be able to commit the necessary time to the Register as the Steering Board, as the Register would be reported to CMT as one item of many, rather than in the level of detail that was considered by the Steering Group. It was agreed, however, that the new approach should be tried and, should this issue arise in practice, then consideration could be given to reinstating the Steering Group.
RESOLVED:
That the latest update of `Part One' of the Improvement Planning Register be noted.
112 PERFORMANCE ASSESSMENT OF FIRE AND RESCUE AUTHORITIES BY THE AUDIT COMMISSION 2007
The Committee considered the report of the Chief Officer (Item 10 in the Minute Book) on the results of the Audit Commission's latest national assessment of fire and rescue authorities. The Authority had achieved excellent results, placing it well within the top ten best performing fire and rescue authorities. Concern had been raised with the low rating that the Authority received for Internal Control, and the lack of explanation given regarding this in the commentary. It was noted that the external auditors were due to attend the next meeting of the Governance Committee, which would provide an opportunity to raise this issue. Members were briefed on the external auditing arrangements being introduced as part of the new Comprehensive Area Assessment arrangements . Whilst use of resources and direction of travel assessments would continue, there would be more focus on joint and partnership working within areas to achieve citizen led priorities.
The Chairman lead the Members in congratulating the Officers for achieving such excellent results.
RESOLVED:
That the excellent results obtained by the Authority in the Audit Commission's 2007 National Performance Assessment of fire and rescue authorities be noted.