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Yorkshire and Humberside Fire Authorities’
Regional Management Board

Meeting Held on Thursday 13 January 2005 at the South Yorkshire Joint Secretariat Offices, Barnsley

Present:

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

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

South Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Authority
Councillor J Andrews (items 1 – 6 and 9(v) only, Min. nos. 44 – 49 and 52 (Leasing arrangements) refer)
Councillor J Bird
Councillor P Scriven
Mr M Smitherman
Mr C Bryce
Mr D Cutting

West Yorkshire Fire Authority
Councillor T McElroy
Councillor D Travis
Councillor G P Kirkland
Councillor R Light
Mr P Toase
Mr K Arbuthnot
Mr D Monks
Mr A Hughes

Treasurer:

Mr M Price

Secretariat:

Mr M G Barnes
Mrs N Houseman
In attendance

Mr A Evans – Office of the Deputy Prime Minister, Civil Resilience Directorate
Ms S Raisbeck – Office of the Deputy Prime Minister
Mr P Smith – Office of the Deputy Prime Minister

44 Apologies for Absence

No apologies for absence from the meeting had been received.

45 Minutes of the Last Meeting

Resolved

That, subject to the inclusion of Councillor Scriven in the list of apologies given, the Minutes of the Board at a meeting held on 21 October 2004 be signed by the Chair as a correct record.

46 Urgent Items

There were no urgent items for consideration at the meeting.

47 Admission of the Public

Resolved

That the public and press be excluded from the meeting during 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 respectively specified.

Agenda Item Number - E6
Title of Report - New Dimension and FireLink – an update
Minute Number - 48
Description of Exempt information by reference to
the paragraph number in Schedule 12A of the Local
Government Act 1972 - Section 100A (3) (A) –
Government Restriction

Agenda Item Number - E9 (v)

Title of Report - Leasing Arrangements – Regional Control Centre

Minute Number - 52

Description of Exempt information by reference to
the paragraph number in Schedule 12A of the Local
Government Act 1972 - Section 100A (3) (A) –
Government Restriction

48 Declarations of Interest

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

49 New Dimension and Firelink – an Update

(Exempt information under Schedule 100A (3) (A) of the Local Government Act 1972 – Government Restriction)

Mr Alun Evans, Director of the Civil Resilience Directorate at the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister, gave a presentation about progress with the New Dimension and FireLink projects.

Members were advised of;

• the background to the New Dimension project

• the legislative context

• response capabilities (resources and equipment)

• FireLink timescales

The following issues were discussed with Members;

• funding and “new burdens” principle

• impact on local revenue budgets (crewing costs, mass decontamination revenue etc)

Resolved

That the content of the presentation be noted.

50 Adoption of Mission Statement and Appointment of Member Champions

Members considered a report of the Secretary to the Board which sought approval for the adoption of vision, mission and core value statements for the Board together with the appointment of Member champions for each of the six strategic areas.

It was reported that the proposed statements had been agreed at a Member workshop held in December 2004 which had also recommended that champions be selected from those constituent authorities other than the lead authority for that particular key functional area.

Resolved

(i) That the following statements be agreed, subject to consideration by individual Fire Authorities

Vision :  Supporting local service delivery through regional cooperation

Mission :  To deliver maximum benefit from the resources of the region in support of the Fire and Rescue Services in our communities

Core Values :  In working with our four partners,

We value our diverse communities

We value innovation, change and learning

We value our Fire and Rescue Services

and;

(ii) That Member champions be appointed for the six strategic functions as follows;

Strategic Function  - Resilience

Member - Councillor J Bird

Constituent authority - South Yorkshire

Strategic Function - Specialist / common services

Member - Councillor R Light

Constituent authority - West Yorkshire

Strategic Function - Regional Control Rooms

Member - Councillor J Andrews & Councillor G Rennie
Constituent authority - South Yorkshire & North Yorkshire

Strategic Function - Procurement

Member - Councillor T McElroy

Constituent authority - West Yorkshire

Strategic Function - Training

Member - Councillor P Scriven & Councillor D Travis
Constituent authority - South Yorkshire & West Yorkshire

Strategic Function - Personnel and HR Management
Member - Councillor D Barkworth

Constituent authority - Humberside

51 Strategic Functions – Update

Resilience

The Deputy Chief Fire Officer (West Yorkshire) submitted a report which provided an update on the issue of regional resilience.

Members were advised of;

• New Dimension programme funding issues
• anticipated installation timescale of Detection, Identification and Monitoring (DIM) equipment
• identification of expected location of Urban Search and Rescue (USAR) vehicle and reassurances of grounds for its deployment
• New Dimension : Fire and Rescue Service (Interim) National Fire and Rescue Co-ordination Centre – operational in West Yorkshire mobilising centre – business case for its extension currently being produced by ODPM
• Regional Resilience - clarification awaited re improved definition of areas of responsibility for RMB, Regional Resilience Forum, local strategic co-ordinating groups and CFOA
• Command and Control Training – delivery of training commenced in West Yorkshire Hydra suite

Resolved

(i) That the report be noted.

Specialist (Common) Services

Consideration was given to a report of the Deputy Chief Officer / Director of Community Protection of Humberside Fire and Rescue Service concerning progress with Common Services collaborative work across the Region.

Members were advised of progress of the 3 sub-groups as identified at the last meeting of the RMB as follows;

• Information Technology – progress with development of Regional Information Strategy and of RMB website
• Fire Investigation – production of Fire Investigation Framework document
• Fire Safety – production of regional Fire Safety Framework document

Resolved

(i) That the report be noted; and

(ii) That the Fire Safety and Fire Investigation Framework documents be approved as attached at annexes A and B respectively to the report now submitted.

Regional Control Rooms

The Director of Fire Safety and Technical Services with West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service advised that progress with the issue of Regional Control was included at agenda item 9 (Minute no. 52 refers).

Procurement

Members received a report of the Director of Operations at South Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service which informed Members of the RMB response to the Draft National Procurement Strategy Consultation Document and which reported on progress made since the date of the last meeting.

It was reported that;

• the final procurement Strategy for the Fire and Rescue Service was due to be published in April 2005

• the centre of procurement excellence had agreed to be represented at working group meetings and has provided support in the production of a 3-year plan and draft regional procurement strategy. Suggestions were made with regard to the possible inclusion of environmental impact and “buying local” statements in the draft Regional Procurement Plan.

• the Private Finance Initiative bid for the Personal Protective Equipment elements of the Integrated Clothing Project had been unsuccessful – alternative funding streams were being explored

Resolved

(i) That the report be noted; and

(ii) That the draft Regional Procurement Plan be approved.

Training

Consideration was given to a report from AC Anderson, North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service, which updated members on progress towards the delivery of the regional training function as follows;

• response to “Towards a National Workforce Development Strategy” document as agreed by the regional Training Sub-Group (annex A to the report now submitted)

• Research study by Leeds University on behalf of the constituent Brigades into the physiological effects of Compartment Fire Behaviour Training was reported to have commenced

• Establishment of Training Practitioner sub-group

Resolved

That the report be noted.

Personnel and HR Management

There had been nothing to report since the date of the last meeting.

52 Regional Firecontrol

Member received a brief presentation from the Fire Brigades’ Union outlining their concern about the Outline Business Case for Regional FireControl prior to Members’ consideration of the item.

Mock-up Control Room

The Chair advised Members of his attendance at the ODPM presentation which included a “mock up” of a proposed Regional Control Centre.

Resolved

That the report be noted.

Outline Business Case / Finance and Governance

Members considered reports inviting analysis of the ODPM Outline Business Case (OBC) together with an ODPM consultation paper on the finance and governance arrangements for the Regional Control Centre project.

Grave concerns were raised with regard to the lack of clear financial information contained within the OBC and it was unanimously,

Resolved

(i) That a letter be forwarded to the ODPM on behalf of the RMB expressing Members’ concerns;

• about the lack of information and transparency in the process

• that the cost / benefit data had not been made available

• that an independent review be undertaken with regard to the underlying assumptions contained within the OBC; and

(ii) That consideration of the items 9 (ii) and 9 (iii) be deferred to an extraordinary meeting of the RMB (to be held in advance of the 25 January deadline) pending receipt of more detailed information from the ODPM in respect of (i) above.

Motion from the South West Regional Management Board

Members considered a letter sent to the ODPM on behalf of the South West Regional Management Board expressing concern at the apparent failure of the Government department to take due account of local stakeholder opinion on Regional Control Centre.

Resolved

That the content of the letter be noted.

Leasing Arrangements

(Exempt information under Schedule 100A (3) (A) of the Local Government Act 1972 – Government Restriction)

Consideration was given to a report of the Secretary to the Board in response to a consultation undertaken by the ODPM with regard to the proposed content of the Regional Control Centre lease and financing arrangements.

Resolved

That the Secretary’s action be approved and constituent Fire Authorities be required to contribute to the costs incurred in accordance with the approved RMB financial scheme.

53 Date of the Next Meeting

The next ordinary scheduled meeting of the Regional Management Board will be held on Thursday, 7 April at Easingwold College, North Yorkshire.

Chair

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