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Yorkshire and Humberside Regional Fire Authorities’ Regional Management Board Meeting held on Thursday 12 January 2006 at Offices of South Yorkshire Joint Secretariat, Barnsley

Present:

Humberside Fire and Rescue Authority
Councillor C Randall
Councillor N Sherwood


North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Authority
Councillor E Broadbent
Councillor J Morley


South Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Authority
Councillor J Andrews
Councillor J Bird


West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Authority
Councillor G Beever
Councillor M Coulson (as substitute for Councillor M Khan)
Councillor P M Harrand
Councillor R Light


Secretariat:

Mr M G Barnes
Mrs N Houseman


Treasurer:

Mr M Price


In attendance:

Mr F Duffield Humberside
Mr K Marshall Humberside
Mr N Hutchinson North Yorkshire
Mr A Trowsdale North Yorkshire
Mr M Smitherman South Yorkshire
Mr S Swarbrick South Yorkshire
Mr M Davis South Yorkshire
Mr D Cutting South Yorkshire
Mr P Toase West Yorkshire
Mr K Arbuthnot West Yorkshire
Mr S Pilling West Yorkshire


33  Apologies for Absence


Apologies for absence had been received from Councillor M Khan (West Yorkshire) and from Councillor P Scriven (South Yorkshire).

34  Minutes of the Last Meeting


Resolved


(i) That the Minutes of the Board at a meeting held on 20 October 2005 be
signed by the Chair as a correct record;
(ii) That an item be included on the agenda for the next meeting concerning
Project Management for the Board; and
(iii) That a Chief Officer / Authority Chairs’ meeting be convened to consider
the Board’s direction and progress against agreed objectives.


35  Urgent Items


None


36  Admission of the Public


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


37  Declarations of Interest


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


38  Regional Management Board – Progress Report - Overview


Consideration was given to a report of the Secretary which advised of progress
made within the region against the six nationally set objectives for the Regional
Management Board as identified in the National Framework Document.


Members were advised that all the regional projects had either been achieved or
remained on target to be achieved.

Resolved

That the report be noted.

Strategic Functions - Update

39  Resilience


The Deputy Chief Fire Officer (West Yorkshire) submitted a report which
provided an update on the issue of regional resilience and specifically on the
following areas;


Resolved


(i) That the report be noted; and
(ii) That details of mass decontamination procedures and USAR be circulated as an annex to these Minutes.


40  Specialist (Common) Services


Consideration was given to a report of the Deputy Chief Officer of Humberside
Fire and Rescue Service advising of the progress made by the Common
Services Sub Group in the following areas;


Members were advised that the costs associated with the Fire Investigation
element of the function were being borne by each constituent brigade.


Resolved


That the report be noted.


41  Regional Control Rooms


The Chief Executive and Chief Fire Officer of the West Yorkshire Fire and
Rescue Service submitted a report which advised Members of the status of the
FireControl project.


Governance


Copies of the ODPM response to the letter sent on behalf of the Regional
Management Board after the October 2005 meeting, together with the Minister’s
response, were circulated at the meeting for Members’ information.


No information had yet been received with regard to the establishment of a
regional entity. However, it was reported that further guidance relating to
governance issues, including draft Articles of Association, was expected to be
received in January 2006. This would be followed by a three-month consultation
period with the anticipated appointment of Company Directors by 21 April and
the establishment of the Company by 28 April 2006.


Members were further advised that the ODPM were being pressed to give full
consideration to the allocation and distribution of costs and savings associated
with the project. No details had yet been forthcoming. The Board reiterated its
concern at the increasing number of financial issues which required resolution.


Resolved


i) That the report be noted; and


ii) That a special meeting of the Regional Management Board be convened in early March to consider the draft Articles of Association together with the ODPM guidance concerning governance of the Regional Control Rooms with a view to making recommendations for consideration by the constituent Fire and Rescue Authorities.


42  Procurement


Members considered a report of the Director of Support Services (South
Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service) which advised of the implications of the
National Procurement Strategy for the Fire and Rescue Service and work that
was in hand by the Yorkshire and Humberside Procurement Working Group to
draft a Regional Procurement Strategy. Members were further invited to
consider how the “Action Plan” (a constituent part of the proposed Regional
Procurement Strategy) might be resourced.


It was reported that the National Procurement Strategy had been published in
November 2005 and FireBuy Ltd had been established. Members were advised
that there remained some unresolved issues relating to the operation of a
national procurement strategy.


Concern was also expressed by Members at the following;


Resolved


(i) That the report be noted;


(ii) That the proposed draft Regional Procurement Strategy, Action Plan and
associated Business Case be submitted for consideration by each
constituent Fire and Rescue Authority before the end of May 2006; and


(iii) That the resolution of each Authority, as detailed at (ii) above, be
submitted to the July 2006 meeting of the Regional Management Board
together with an advanced draft of the regional procurement documentation.


43  Training


Consideration was given to a report of the Assistant Chief Officer and Director of
Human Resources of North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service which updated
Members on the Training function and specifically on the following issues;


Resolved


(i) That the report be noted;


(ii) That the realignment of IPDS within the RMB Training Function be endorsed; and


(iii) That, pending the outcomes of work nationally, endorsement be given to
the regional framework for staff development and assessment in respect of incident command.


44  Personnel and HR Management


The Director of Human Resources at West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service
submitted a report which advised of the progress made with regard to Personnel
and HR Management issues.


It was reported that work had been progressed on the following issues;


Resolved


That the report be noted


45  Draft National Framework 2006 – 2008 - Consultation


Consideration was given to a report of the Secretary to the Board which invited
consideration of possible formal response to the Draft Fire and Rescue Service
National Framework 2006 – 08 consultation exercise.


Proposed revisions by the Secretary of State related to;


Resolved


That the following comments be submitted on behalf of the Yorkshire and
Humberside Regional Management Board in response to the consultation exercise
on revisions to the Draft National Framework document 2006 – 08;


46  Regional Management Board Budget – Accounts and Audit


Members considered a report of the Treasurer to the Board which advised of the
current position with regard to the Board’s budget, accounts and audit as follows;


It was also noted that there would be a need to set out protocols for joint venture expenditure.


Resolved


(i) That endorsement be given to continuing existing arrangements for
financing regional tasks during 2006 / 7, pending resolution of current
uncertainty; and


(ii) That discussions with the External Auditor be delegated to the Treasurer
and Secretary in consultation with the Chair and Vice Chair of the Board.


47  Date of Next Meeting


Resolved


That the next meeting of the Yorkshire and Humberside Fire Authorities’ Regional
Management Board be held on Thursday 6 April 2006 at North Yorkshire Fire and
Rescue Service Training Centre, Easingwold.


Chair

Annex


Mass Decontamination Disrobe Modules


Humberside - March 2006
South Yorkshire - March 2006
West Yorkshire - April 2006
North Yorkshire - No allocation


Urban Search & Rescue
(West Yorks only)


Module 1 + 1 Prime Mover - Scene Assessment, technical search & temporary shoring - Already on the run


Module 4 + 1 Prime Mover - Multi Purpose Vehicle & Shelters - delayed by ODPM
procurement issues (anticipated 1st quarter 06)


Module 3 + 1 Prime mover - Breaching and breaking, air lift units & timber shoring - October 2006


Module 5 - Timber - October 2006


Module 2 - Heavy transport rescue - November 2006


Canine Support - 1 dog, 2 kennels & 4x4 Vehicle - TBA, However roll out anticipated mid 2006 - Allocation 1 per USAR Host brigade + 1 per Region


High Volume Pumps


Humberside - Delivered December 2005 anticipated on the run April 2006 subject to building works @ Bridlington F Stn.


North Yorkshire - 1 HVP + 1 Hose Box + Prime Mover - On the run @ Harrogate 2nd Unit - May 2006 location TBA.


West Yorkshire - HVP + Prime Mover - March 2006 Hose box + Prime Mover - May 2006.


South Yorkshire - Delivered December 2005 - awaiting completion of training courses.


Detection, Identification and Monitoring equipment (DIM)

West Yorkshire - On the run


South Yorkshire - Delivered December 2005 - Not fully operational pending operator training.


Humberside - Delivered December 2005 - Not fully operational pending operator
training.


North Yorkshire - No Allocation


Radiation Survey Meters


Anticipated issue to all brigades mid 2006. Total of 1000 units have been purchased.