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 26 November, 2009.
PRESENT:
Councillors: F. Jonas (Vice-Chairman), Mrs. J.K. Frankum; A. Fraser; P. Galton; R.J. Kimber; Sam Payne; M.J. Tucker; J.K. West; Mrs. P.A. West
In the absence of the Chairman, Councillor F. Jonas, Vice-Chairman took the Chair.
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COUNCILLOR F. JONAS IN THE CHAIR
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12 APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE
Apologies for absence were received from Councillors A. Carew and K. Chapman.
13 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 the 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.
Councillor A. Fraser declared a personal interest - Member of Fire Brigade Union.
14 MINUTES
The Minutes of the meeting of the Committee held on 3 July, 2009 were confirmed as a correct record and signed by the Vice-Chairman.
15 CHAIRMAN'S ANNOUNCEMENTS
There were no Chairman's announcements.
16 DEPUTATIONS
There were no deputations to the meeting.
17 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 2009. Account was taken of any efficiency savings or deletion of posts, successful budget bids or variations within the Service's authorised establishment level since the last meeting. It was noted that in paragraph 4.2 of the report it read "three" Directors as part of the Authorised Establishment. It was understood that there were four. This was clarified at the meeting. However, as a post meeting note, this area considered those staff on "Grey Book" terms and conditions only and the three posts indicated represented the Chief Officer and two Deputy Chief Officer posts. The two "Green Book" Director posts are recorded separately.
RESOLVED:
That the changes to the establishment under the Chief Officer's delegated powers contained within the report be noted.
18 HAMPSHIRE FIRE AND RESCUE AUTHORITY ELECTED MEMBER DEVELOPMENT - UPDATE
The Committee considered the report of the Chief Officer (Item 7 in the Minute Book) giving an update on elected Member development. It included progress on the agreed action plan and proposed initiatives to further support Member development. In discussion, the Chief Officer noted various Member suggestions in relation to facilitating their training needs and that they supported in-house events as being particularly appropriate. As well as the regular Member Awareness Sessions following Authority meetings, it was felt Members would benefit from a training item being included from time to time on the rising of a Committee meeting.
RESOLVED:
(a) That progress on the South East Employers Charter for an Elected Member Development Plan be noted.
(b) That the Committee agree the following initiatives to further support Member Development:
· Introduction of a HFRA Member Profile
· The completion of a Member Training Needs Analysis
· Adoption of the Community Leadership Skills Framework
· HFRA Elected Member Steering Group adopt management of the budget for Elected Member Development
· Introduction of an Elected Member Development web area
19 LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT FRAMEWORK
The Committee considered the report of the Chief Officer (Item 8 in the Minute Book) about the future leadership development within Hampshire Fire and Rescue Service. In discussion, Members volunteered their support to the programme by participating, if required, on political awareness issues and this was welcomed by the Chief Officer.
RESOLVED:
That the initiatives identified within the report and the Leadership Framework for Hampshire Fire and Rescue Service be noted and actively supported.
20 FITNESS STANDARDS
The Committee considered the report of the Chief Officer (Item 9 in the Minute Book) about aligning Hampshire Fire and Rescue Service fitness standards with the national guidance.
RESOLVED:
That the steps taken by Hampshire Fire and Rescue Service to align its fitness standards with the national guidance and for improving the fitness of its workplace be supported.
21 REVIEW AND GOVERNANCE STRUCTURE
The Committee considered the report of the Clerk (Item 10 in the Minute Book) on an invitation for each Committee to review their role and terms of reference. Responses would be reported back to the Governance Committee on 20 March 2010 and recommendations about the future governance structure then proposed for adoption by the Authority at its Annual Meeting in June 2010.
Members' attention was drawn to the Committee's existing terms of reference in relation to Employee Policies and in particular to Clause 3 "To act as the Authority's appeal body for all categories of employees and to appoint appeals panels comprising Members of the Committee or the Authority, as appropriate. (This to include the hearing of appeals relating to : individual dismissals and grievances, and collective disputes)". Whilst recognising that this clause required updating in line with current Grey Book and ACAS Employee procedures now adopted by the Authority they questioned the appropriateness of no Member involvement in such appeals in recent years, in contrast to the position previously.
They wished to have the opportunity to consider their role as Members in such matters in more detail. As a way forward, the Chief Officer agreed to prepare a report for the next meeting in January 2010 explaining the present arrangements on this matter and any opportunities for Member involvement. The report would also refer to a suggested change to the Committee's present terms of reference about approving training and development policies. This would enable Members' consideration of the Committee's role in these areas to be reported to the Governance Committee on 20 March 2010. Finally, the Committee highlighted the importance of promoting and monitoring the Authority's equal opportunities and health safety and welfare policies. In view of this, they felt it should be included within the terms of reference of each Authority Committee and asked that this be reported to the Governance Committee.
Accordingly , it was
RESOLVED:
(a) That the Human Resources Committee at its next meeting on 20 January 2010 consider a report by the Chief Officer on the present internal mechanisms for the hearing of appeals relating to individual dismissals and grievances and collective disputes to enable Members to consider their role or otherwise in such matters in more detail.
(b) That the report referred to in (a) above, also make mention of a proposed change of wording by the Chief Officer to the Committee's terms of reference for approving training and development plans.
(c) That the outcome of the Human Resources Committee's consideration of (a) and (b) above be reported in its comments to the Governance Committee on 20 March 2010, along with their view that each Committee adopt as part of their terms of reference the promotion and monitoring of the Authority's equal opportunities and health, safety and welfare policies.
(d) That the Chairman or Vice-Chairman of the Human Resources Committee present the Committee's comments on this item to the Governance Committee on 20 March 2010.
22 EXCLUSION OF PRESS AND PUBLIC
RESOLVED:
That the press and public be excluded from the meeting during the following items 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 these items 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 of the case, the public interest in maintaining the exemption outweighs the public interest in disclosing the information, for the reasons set out in the reports.
23 DIRECTORATE REVIEW
The Committee received and noted the exempt report of the Chief Officer (Item 12 in the Minute Book) about the Directorate Review.
24 PRINCIPAL OFFICERS' PAY REVIEW GROUP
The Committee considered and approved the exempt report of the Chairman of the Principal Officer Pay Review Group (Item 13 in the Minute Book) on the work of this Group.
[SUMMARY OF AN EXEMPT MINUTE]
NOTE:
INFORMAL PRESENTATION ON THE EFFICIENT AND FLEXIBLE CREWING PROJECT
On the rising of the Meeting, Members of the Committee were given an informal presentation by Dan Tasker about the Efficient and Flexible Crewing Project.
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