Archived decisions

Hampshire Fire and Rescue Authority

Human Resources Committee Item 8

30th April 2009

Member Development Steering Group - Update

Report of the Chief Officer

Contact: Mark Rayner Tel : 02380 644000 ext 2344

Email : [email protected]

1

Summary

1.1

Hampshire Fire and Rescue Authority (HFRA) has agreed to sign up to the South East Employers Charter for Elected Member Development (HFRA 26th September 2007) and has committed to working towards achieving the award over the coming year.

1.2

This process has now commenced and a draft Learning and Development (L&D) Strategy and Action Plan has been produced. The Member Development Steering Group is expected to agree the final strategy and Action Plan at the meeting in June 2009. Once agreed, it will clearly set out the standards required and the timescales required to achieve the Charter by September 2010.

1.3

A Champion for Member Development has been identified from within the Member Development Steering Group and from HFRS.

1.4

An Induction Pack and Members Handbook will be produced in tandem with the production of bespoke web pages on HFRS intranet for Member Development.

2

Recommendation(s)

2.1

The HR Committee note this update from the Member Development Steering Group.

3

Introduction and Background

3.1

Hampshire Fire and Rescue Authority have shown their commitment to Member Development by adopting the SE Employers Charter for Elected Members Development (HFRA 26th September 2007).

3.2

There are a number of milestones in achieving the Charter and these are:

    1. Aligning commitment to Member Development.

    2. Strategic approach to Member Development.

    3. Member learning and development plans in place.

    4. Learning and development is effective in building capacity.

    5. Elected Member Development promotes work life balance and citizenship.

    There are also 5 stages to achievement of the Charter:

    Stage 1 - Signing up to the Charter and developing an Action Plan

    Stage 2 - Improving the development of Elected Members

    Stage 3 - Assessment

    Stage 4 - Awarding the Charter

    Stage 5 - Re-assessment (after 3 years)

    It is anticipated that we will be able to achieve the award by September 2010 as identified within the Action Plan

4

Progress towards the South East Employers Charter for Elected Member Development

4.1

Milestone 1 has been achieved in full with sign up by the Fire Authority and the formation of the Member Development Steering Group who will work towards achievement of the SE Charter Award.

4.2

Milestone 2 has been satisfied by the production of a draft Strategy document, and once agreed, the adoption of the Development Plan will satisfy Milestone 3. This will then move us to Stage 2 - Improving the development of Elected Members.

4.2.1

The draft L&D Strategy and the draft Development Plan (items 2 & 3; Para 3.2), including a number of development tools, were presented at the MDSG meeting on 3rd February 2009. These were discussed and the following actions agreed;

4.2.2

Cllr Sam Payne will act on behalf of the Members of the HFRA as the Member Champion for L&D with the Head of Training and Development (AM Mark Rayner) as the Lead Officer in HFRS.

4.2.3

The L&D Strategy and Action Plan is to be circulated to Members of the Development Steering Group for further comment and sign off.

4.2.4

HFRS will create a dedicated series of Intranet pages within the Hantsfirenet website tailored to the Members development needs. These pages will promote training and development opportunities as well as being a portal to share information.

4.2.5

An Induction Pack has been published and is currently used. A Members Handbook will be published and will be accessible via the Members WebPages (see 4.2.4 above).

5

Contribution to Corporate Aims and Objectives

5.1

The achievement of the Charter will establish the Authorities' commitment to ongoing development and will support achievement of the corporate aims and objectives. It will help ensure that the Authority Members continue to develop their skills and specialist knowledge and will help ensure Hampshire Fire and Rescue Service (HFRS) continues to move towards being an `excellent' Service.

6

Risk Analysis

6.1

    The fire and rescue service is in a period of substantial and sustained change as the expectations of the public and Government continue to grow. Achievement of the SE Charter for Elected Member Development will support Members in identifying and leading their own development. This will support the HFRA in making future risk-based decisions and support delivery of its strategic priorities.

7

Resource/Financial Implications

7.1

Human Resources

As identified in previous papers, one Member from each political group will be nominated to help progress the work. This will be co-ordinated and supported by the existing resources of the Training and Development Department. Future development opportunities for Members will be delivered within the Member Awareness Framework as previously agreed.

7.2

Physical Resources

These will be provided from within existing Service resources.

7.3

Information and Communications Technology Resources

These will be provided from within existing Service resources.

7.4

Financial Implications

The one off cost of registering for the Charter of £3000 has been funded from within the Training budget for the coming year. There are no further direct costs involved with the Charter and any further costs resulting from the Action Plan will be found from within existing budgets.

7.5

There may be opportunities to seek funding from Capacity Building Funds from the SE Fire Improvement Partnership where such activities can provide a cross-regional benefit. These will be actively sought.

8

People Impact Assessment

8.1

A draft PIA has been completed by Head of Learning and Development and will be presented at next meeting.

9

Consultation

9.1

As the work on achieving the Charter develops, the Member Development Steering Group will play a leading role in the consultation with all Members. Consultation will be undertaken to further embed understanding and engagement in this important work and to gain feedback and insights from members that can inform and improve this work.

10

Conclusion

10.1

10.2

The role of Fire Authority Members is probably more crucial now than ever before in taking the service forward. As Hampshire Fire and Rescue Service strives to become the best FRS in the country, the ongoing leadership, support and guidance of Fire Authority Members will be central to the services ability to achieve its aspirations.

Achievement of the SE Charter for Elected Member Development will establish a systematic and co-ordinated framework for Member development within the Authority. It is an outwardly visible demonstration of the commitment of Hampshire Fire and Rescue Authority members to their own individual and collective development against a national benchmark.

    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:

    · South East Charter for Elected Member Development - Guidance

    · Draft Learning and Development Strategy

    · Draft Learning and Development Action Plan

    Note: The list excludes: (1) published works; and (2) documents that disclose exempt or confidential information defined in the Act.