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Yorkshire and Humberside Regional Fire Authorities’ Regional Management Board

Meeting held on Thursday 7 April 2005 at
the North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service Training Centre


Present:

Humberside Fire Authority
Councillor D G Barkworth (Chair)
Councillor C Randall
Mr K Marshall
Mr F Duffield
Mr Hall


North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Authority
Councillor J Morley
Councillor G Rennie
Mr E Clark
Mr N Hutchinson
Mr C Anderson


South Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Authority
Councillor J Andrews
Councillor J Bird
Councillor M Cuthbert (as substitute for Councillor P Scriven)
Mr M Smitherman
Mr C Bryce
Mr D Cutting


West Yorkshire Fire Authority
Councillor P M Harrand (as substitute for Councillor R Light)
Councillor G P Kirkland
Councillor D Travis
Mr P Toase
Mr K Arbuthnot
Mr I Gilchrist


Secretariat:

Mr M G Barnes
Mrs N Houseman


Treasurer:

Mr M Price


59  Apologies for Absence


Councillor P Scriven – South Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Authority
Councillor R Light – West Yorkshire Fire Authority

60  Minutes of Previous Meetings


Resolved


(i) That the Minutes of the Board at a meeting held on 13 January 2005 be signed by the Chair as a correct record; and


(ii) That, subject to an amendment to resolution (i) of Minute no. 58 as follows the Minutes of the Board at a meeting held on 20 January 2005 be signed by the Chair as a correct record.


“That the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister (ODPM) be advised that the Yorkshire and Humberside Fire Authorities’ Regional Management Board (RMB) does support the principle of modernisation”.


61  Urgent Item


Councillor Rennie raised the issue of regular general update reports from each
constituent Brigade on areas of interest not directly related to the six strategic
functions of the Regional Management Board. These may include Integrated
Risk Management Planning, Integrated Personal Development Systems and
Comprehensive Performance Assessment.


Resolved


That this matter be discussed at the next meeting of the Officer Programme
Management Group and reported back to the July meeting of the Regional
Management Board.


62  Admission of the Public


The meeting determined that there were no items which necessitated the
exclusion of the public.


63  Declarations of Interest


There were no declarations of interest made in any matter under consideration at the meeting.


64  Strategic Functions Update


(i)   Resilience


The Director of Operations with West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service
submitted a report which updated Members with regard to progress with
resilience matters since the date of the last meeting.

Members were advised of progress in the following key areas;


It was further reported that a very positive and effective meeting had been held between officers and the Member Champion for resilience.


Resolved


(i) That the report be noted;


(ii) That a report be submitted to a future meeting of the Regional Management Board as appropriate with regard convergence between the resilience planning work of the Regional Resilience Forum and the Regional Management Board; and


(iii) That a report be submitted to a future meeting of the Regional Management Board advising of progress specifically related to the Hydra training.

(ii)  Common Services


Consideration was given to a report of the Deputy Chief Fire Officer / Director of
Community Protection of Humberside Fire and Rescue Service, which briefed
Members on progress to date of the Common Services sub-group.


Members were advised that work was progressing with regard to the Information Technology, Fire Safety and Fire Investigation projects. It was reported that little had been done to date with regard to Community Fire Safety although it was recognised that a lot of work was being undertaken in this aspect in the constituent authorities.


It was reported that, for practical purposes, the Fire Safety and Fire Investigation sub-groups had been merged into one joint group given the cross-over of officers involved in the two key areas.


Resolved


(i) That the report be noted;


(ii) That the Information Technology framework be submitted to the July
meeting of the Regional Management Board for approval;


(iii) That exploratory work be undertaken to assess the possibility of
establishing project groups under IRMP (West Midlands) and Partnerships; and


(iv) That a further report be submitted to a future meeting of the Regional
Management Board advising of outcome of exploratory work at (iii) above.


(iii)  Regional Control Rooms


A report was submitted by the Chief Fire Officer of the West Yorkshire Fire and
Rescue Service which updated Members on progress to date on the following key areas;


Clear progress had been made nationally and guidance was becoming available
at a regional level on the work that must be undertaken in the Regional Control
Room project.

It was further reported that no response had yet been received from the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister to questions drafted by the Treasurer following a
national Regional Control meeting in London on 18 March together with those
agreed at the 20 January meeting of this Regional Management Board.


Resolved


(i) That the report be noted;


(ii) That the proposal to second and back-fill the posts of all four officers
currently undertaking named roles in the project be endorsed;


(iii) That, subject to confirmation of New Burdens funding to meet all employment costs including any additional accommodation and other necessary support services, the four remaining posts (as detailed in the report now submitted) be filled under fixed term contracts.


(iv)  Procurement


The Director of Operations (South Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service) submitted
a report which advised of the progress made to date with work undertaken by the regional procurement group and of key matters arising from meetings and
discussions with the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister in anticipation of
publication of the final National Strategy.


It was further reported that a very successful meeting had been held between
officers and the Member Champion for procurement.


Resolved


(i) That the report be noted; and


(ii) That the procurement report to the next meeting of the Regional Management Board should include details with regard to opportunities for
funding.


(v)  Training


Members considered a report from the North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service
which advised of progress towards the delivery of the regional training strategic
function. Details of the response from the Office to the Deputy Prime Minister to
the consultation process would be circulated under separate cover to all Members of the Regional Management Board.


The following key areas were reported;


Resolved


That the report be noted.


(vi)  Personnel and Human Resources Management


Members were advised of the progress made with a number of regional
frameworks as proposed by the IPDS sub-group for adoption by the Regional
Management Board.


Components incorporated within these frameworks included;


Resolved


That the framework documents be approved and a regional template be adopted by the constituent Fire Authorities in respect of risk-based role maps and job descriptions / role profiles.


65  Draft Equality Policies


Resolved


That consideration of the draft regional Equality Policies be deferred to the July
meeting of the Regional Management Board to allow for clarification of the status of the proposals.


66  Financial Contributions from Constituent Fire and Rescue Authorities


Consideration was given to a report of the Treasurer which sought approval for
the proposed means of financing costs incurred in progressing the tasks assigned to the Regional Management Board.


Resolved


(i) That, as in 2004 / 5, any expenditure over and above staff time incurred
upon the Board’s remit be financed pro rata to council tax base;

(ii) That the approach at (i) above be kept under review as 2005 / 6
progresses;


(iii) That the financing of the Board by the constituent Fire and Rescue
Authorities be reviewed in September 2005 so that the outcome may be
incorporated in Fire and Rescue Authority financial plans for 2006 / 7 and
subsequent years;


(iv) That the Treasurer ascertain formally what accounting and external audit
arrangements are expected;


(v) That the Treasurer, in consultation with the Chair of the Regional
Management Board, determine whether there is a need for an Authority to
be nominated as lead authority for RMB expenditure audit purposes and, if
so, to nominate Humberside Fire and Rescue Authority; and


(vi) That this approach, (i) – (v) above, be recommended to the constituent
Fire and Rescue Authorities for their approval.


67  Member Champions – Project Involvement


Resolved


That the successful involvement of relevant Member champions in the six
strategic functional areas of the Regional Management Board be welcomed.


68  Calendar of Meetings 2005 / 6


Resolved


That the calendar of meetings for the Regional Management Board 2005 / 2006
be approved as follows;


Thursday, 21 July 2005 (AGM) 11 am Humberside
Thursday, 20 October 2005 11 am West Yorkshire
Thursday, 12 January 2006 11 am South Yorkshire
Thursday, 6 April 2006 11 am North Yorkshire


Chair