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West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Authority
Meeting of the Finance and Resources Committee Held on 25 April 2008
at Fire Service Headquarters, Birkenshaw
Present: Councillors P Harrand (in the Chair), J Cole, M Coulson, J Godward,
D Hollingsworth, N Ikram (as substitute for Councillor B Smith), M Jamil, M Khan, R Light, A Ogilvie and G Wilkinson
Apologies: Councillors M Harkin, B Smith and R Taylor
72 Minutes of the Last Meeting
Resolved
That the Minutes of the Committee at a meeting held on 14 March 2008 be signed by
the Chair as a correct record.
73 Urgent Items
None.
74 Exclusion of the Public - Section 100a, Local Government Act 1972
Resolved
That the public and press be excluded from the meeting during consideration
of the items of business specified below as it was likely, in view of the nature
of the business to be transacted or the nature of the proceedings, that if members of the public and press were present during these items, there
would be disclosure to them of exempt information of the descriptions specified.
| Agenda Item No. | Title of Report | Minute No. |
Description of exempt information by reference to the paragraph number in Schedule 12a of the Local Government Act 1972 |
| E14 | Purchase of Fire Helmets | 85 |
Paragraph 3 – financial or business affairs |
| E15 | Purchase of Hydraulic Rescue Equipment |
86 |
Paragraph 3 – financial or business affairs |
| E16 | Insurance renewals – update |
87 |
Paragraph 3 – financial or business affairs |
| E17 | Capital Expenditure – refurbishment scheme |
88 |
Paragraph 3 – financial or business affairs |
75 Disclosures of Interest
There were no disclosures of interest in any matter under discussion at the meeting.
76 Attacks on Firefighters
Consideration was given to a report of the Director of Fire Safety and Community Relations which advised Members of a community-based initiative to reduce the number of attacks on firefighters in the BD3 and BD4 areas of Bradford.
It was reported that a community meeting, held in the wake of Bonfire Night 2007, had
made a series of recommendations for improved engagement of the Fire Service with
the local community as follows;
• Attendance at Madrassas and Mosques to deliver fire safety talks
• Partnership work with local youth workers
• Community bonfires
• Bradford station visits and community open day
• Joint initiatives with community organisations
• More effective contact with High Schools – delivery of fire / road safety and
recruitment talks
• Participation and membership of the Friends of Attock Park Committee
Councillor Jamil, a local Ward Councillor, had been involved with the BD3 and
BD4 initiatives and it was reported that other local Ward Councillors had offered their help and would be interested in getting involved with the projects. Members were advised that it was hoped to expand the community work into the Lidget Green and Scholemoor areas of Bradford.
Resolved
(i) That the report be noted; and
(ii) That Bradford District Manager, Keith Robinson, and Councillor Jamil be
thanked for their work in improving relationships between the local BD3 and
BD4 community and the Fire Service.
77 Risk Reduction - Deep Fryers and Electric Blankets - Update
The Director of Fire Safety and Community Relations submitted a report which advised
Members of the result of a 12-month review following changes made
to the strategy of supplying deep fat fryers and electric blankets as agreed at the 27 April 2007 meeting of this Committee.
It was reported that the general exchange policy had been replaced with a risk based
approach and a comparison of fire death statistics for the three years 2005 to 2007
revealed that this change in policy had had no adverse effect
on vulnerable and high risk members of the community.
Resolved
That the report be noted and the Deep Fryers and Electric Blanket targeted exchange
policy be continued.
78 High Risk Team
Consideration was given to a report of the Director of Fire Safety and Community
Relations which advised of the outcome of a review of the work undertaken by the
Community Safety High Risk team.
Members were advised that the strategy used by the team had had an impact on the
number of accidental dwelling fire deaths which were currently at their lowest (11 in the
fiscal year 2007 / 8) and it was hoped that this downward trend would continue with
increased engagement with other partner agencies.
Resolved
That the report be noted and the continued development of the High Risk Team be
supported.
79 Flood Review
The Director of Operations submitted a report which advised of the implications for
West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service of Sir Ken Knight’s review of the role of the
FRS in the floods of 2007.
The following issues were raised;
• Call handling capacity
• Location of emergency equipment
• Interoperability of equipment
• Role of Local Resilience Forum in planning, preparation and organisation of
exercises
• Training
• Predictionsfor areas to be worst hit in West Yorkshire
• Assessment of resilience at community / individual householder level
• Use of media
Resolved
(i) That the report be noted; and
(ii) That regular updates be submitted to the Finance and Resources Committee on
a six-monthly basis.
80 Community Safety IRMP - Wetherby
Consideration was given to a report of the Director of Fire Safety and Community
Relations which informed Members of the Community Safety IRMP (Integrated Risk
Management Plan) in the Wetherby area and progress towards changing the duty
system to day crewing.
It was reported that the priority given to the outstanding Fire Safety Checks in the area
would be initially determined by risk with a completion target of 3 – 6 months. Members
were further advised that good progress had been made towards the change of duty
system with a full move to Day Crewing on 15 October 2008.
Resolved
That the report and action plan towards Day Crewing at Wetherby Fire Station be
noted.
81 Illegal Storage of Fireworks - Prosecution
The Director of Fire Safety and Community Relations submitted a report which advised
of the details of the prosecution WYFRA (West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Authority) v.
Hartley for the illegal storage of fireworks.
It was reported that the case involved illegal storage of fireworks with a net explosive
content (nec) of 157 kg which represented thirty times the legal limit together with other
tobacco duty evasion offences.
In view of the serious nature of the offence the case was referred to Bradford Crown
Court and Hartley was subsequently sentenced to 12 months imprisonment for the duty
evasion and 6 months imprisonment for the illegal storage of fireworks.
Resolved
That the report be noted.
82 Attendance at Equality and Diversity Conference
The Director of Corporate Resources submitted a report which invited consideration of attendance by Members at the Equality and Diversity Conference to be held in London on 28 May 2008.
Resolved
That attendance by Members at the Equality and Diversity Conference in London on 28
May 2008 be approved on the basis of one Member from each political group.
83 Corporate Communications Strategy 2008 - 2011
Consideration was given to a report of the Director of Corporate Resources which sought approval for a three-year Corporate Communications Strategy for West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue.
Resolved
That approval be given to the implementation of the three-year Corporate
Communications Strategy as submitted as an annex to the report now submitted.
84 E-Recruitment - Virement
The Director of Human Resources submitted a report which sought approval for the slippage of funding for the SAP training scheme into the 2008 / 9 capital plan to purchase an e-recruitment package for the SAP database at a cost of £19,200.
Resolved
That approval be given to the slippage of funding and purchase of an e-recruitment package as detailed in the report now submitted.
85 Purchase of Fire Helmets
(This item was considered as exempt information under Schedule 12 A (3) of the Local Government Act 1972 – business or financial affairs)
Consideration was given to a report of the Director of Operations which sought approval
for the purchase of replacement fire helmets as detailed in the report now submitted
either by way of an open tender process or, with the approval of CLG, via the North
West Fire Consortium.
Members were advised that funding for the scheme was contained within the approved
capital plan.
Resolved
That project start approval be given for the purchase of replacement Fire Helmets as
detailed in the report now submitted.
86 Purchase of Hydraulic Rescue Equipment
(This item was considered as exempt information under Schedule 12 A (3) of the Local Government Act 1972 – business or financial affairs)
The Director of Operations submitted a report which sought approval for the purchase of
replacement hydraulic rescue equipment.
Consideration was given to the type of equipment supplied by four main established
suppliers as detailed in the report now submitted and revised costings for the project
were circulated at the meeting based on the whole life cost of the equipment.
Resolved
That approval be given to the purchase of replacement hydraulic rescue equipment manufactured by Holmatro as detailed in the report now submitted.
87 Insurance Renewals - Update
(This item was considered as exempt information under Schedule 12 A (3) of the Local Government Act 1972 – business or financial affairs)
The Chief Finance Officer submitted a report on the conclusion of negotiations of the
insurance contract and renewal premiums.
It was reported that insurance had been negotiated as follows;
• liability contract - Travellers Insurance
• motor insurance - Allianz Cornhill
• property insurance continued under existing arrangements with AIG until 2009
• computer, engineering inspection – AON
• fidelity guarantee – continued with Zurich Municipal
Members were advised that the new policies and premiums represented a saving of
19.81% over the 2006 / 7 cost of insurance which, in the best interest of the Authority
would be paid by instalments.
Resolved
That the report be noted.
88 Capital Expenditure - Refurbishment Schemes
(This item was considered as exempt information under Schedule 12 A (3) of the Local Government Act 1972 – business or financial affairs)
Members considered a report of the Director of Corporate Resources which sought
approval for a number of strategic refurbishment projects as follows;
• Environmental improvements to the Fire Training House
• Extension to breathing apparatus training building
• Internal alterations at Driving School
• Creation of new Reception Area in Training Centre (including disabled access)
• Installation of green energy central heating boiler in Training Centre
• Refurbishment of third floor toilet and shower area (Training Centre)
Resolved
(i) That approval be given to the capital expenditure for the projects and at the
estimated costings as detailed in the report now submitted; and
(ii) That it be noted that necessary building control and planning permissions
would be required for a number of the itemised schemes.
Chair