West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Authority
Meeting of the Personnel and Training Committee held on 11 July 2008 at Fire and Rescue Service Headquarters, Birkenshaw
Present: Councillors D Ridgway (in the Chair);
A Castle, M Coulson, N Ikram, K Iqbal, M Jamil,
G Kirkland and A McKenna.
Apologies: Councillors V Binney and T Hardwick
1 Chairman's Announcements
Death of Former Member – Mike Bower
It was with regret that the Chair advised Members of the recent death of a
former Fire Authority Member, Mike Bower, from Kirklees. Members stood in
silent tribute.
Appointment of Chief Fire Officer / Chief Executive
On behalf of Members of the Committee, the Chair congratulated Simon Pilling
on his appointment to the post of Chief Fire Officer and Chief Executive –
such appointment to take effect from 8 September 2008.
2 Minutes of the Last Meeting
Resolved
That the Minutes of the Committee at a meeting held on 11 April 2008 be signed by the Chair as a correct record.
3 Urgent Items
None.
4 Exclusion of the Public – Section 100A Local Government Act 1972
Resolved
That the public and press be excluded from the meeting during the item 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 were present during this time, there would be disclosure to them of exempt information of the description respectively specified.
Agenda Item No. - E18
Title of Report - Application for Early Retirement
Min No. - 19
Description of exempt information by reference to the paragraph number in Schedule 12a of the Local Government Act 1972 - Paragraph 1 – relating to an individual
5 Disclosures of Interest
No disclosures of interest in any matter under consideration were made.
6 Stonewall Workplace Equality Index
Consideration was given to a report of the Director of Human Resources which advised of the feedback and actions required to improve the Authority’s current position of 43 in the top 100 Stonewall Workplace Equality index.
It was reported that West Yorkshire was one of only two Fire Services featured in the index but that it had also been recognised that some improvements could still be made in order to progress the Authority’s
position with regard to its commitment to diversity.
Details of the action points were set out in the report now submitted.
Resolved
That, with a view to improving upon the Authority’s position within the Stonewall index, approval be given to the action points detailed in the report now submitted.
7 National Equality and Diversity Strategy
The Director of Human Resources submitted a report which informed Members of the actions required to comply with the requirements set out in the National Equality and Diversity Strategy.
Members were advised that the Strategy set out clear expectations for Authority Members, Senior Managers and employees under the following priorities;
• leadership and promotion of inclusion
• accountability
• effective service delivery and community engagement
• employment and training
• evaluation and sharing of best practice
Resolved
(i) That the report be noted; and
(ii) That a copy of the National Equality and Diversity Strategy be distributed to each Member of the Authority.
8 Corporate Equality Scheme
Members considered a report of the Director of Human Resources which sought approval for a single Corporate Equality Scheme which would
harmonise the reporting dates for the individual Race, Disability and Gender schemes. The single scheme would also provide the opportunity to extend best practice requirements in the existing schemes to religion and belief, sexual orientation and age.
Resolved
That the creation of the single Corporate Equality scheme be approved.
9 Gender Equality Scheme
The Director of Human Resources submitted a report which presented a progress report on the Gender Equality Scheme action plans.
Resolved
That the report be noted.
10 Local Government Pension Scheme Policy - Changes
Members considered a report of the Director of Human Resources which advised that the changes under the Local Government Pension Scheme
had been enacted within this Authority with effect from 1 April 2008.
Resolved
That the report be noted.
11 Best Value Review – IT Department Structure
Consideration was given to a report of the Director of Corporate Resources which advised of the progress made in Phases I and II of the IT Department’s restructure.
It was reported that the restructure had been implemented as a result of the Best Value review of the service and would allow for a more proactive rather than reactive approach to be adopted.
Members were advised that the cost of the proposals (£33,500 p.a.) would require an increase in the medium term financial plan as no revenue budgetary provision had been made.
Resolved
That the changes to the establishment and changes to the IT departmental structure be approved as detailed in the report now submitted.
12 Station Officer - Protected Grade
Resolved
That consideration of this item be deferred to a future meeting of this Committee.
13 Fire Safety and Community Relations Review
The Director of Fire Safety and Community Relations submitted a report which sought approval for the implementation of the recommendations of the 2008 review of staffing.
Members were advised that the recommendations of the review would allow improved discharge of the Directorate’s functions with regard to the introduction of new legislation together with that of the High Risk strategy which prioritised the targeting of high risk properties / communities. It would also allow for an extension to the role of the Partnerships officer to take responsibility for the area assessment element of the new Comprehensive Area Assessment procedures.
It was further reported that implementation of the recommendations (as detailed in the report now submitted) would be cost neutral.
Resolved
That the recommendations of the Fire Safety and Community Relations 2008 review of staffing be approved.
14 Crew Manager Posts - Redeployment
The Director of Human Resources submitted a report which advised Members of the redistribution of four Crew Manager posts from the Operational Support Units to Training Delivery.
Members were advised that the change had previously been approved in February 2006 on a temporary basis and it was now recommended that the change be made permanent.
Resolved
That approval be given to the redistribution of four Crew Manager posts from the Operational Support Units to Training Delivery.
15 Data Team Structure
The Director of Corporate Resources submitted a report which sought approval for the implementation of changes to the structure of the Authority’s Data Team in response to new and improved initiatives within the IT department.
Members were advised that the proposals would be cost neutral to the Authority.
Resolved
That approval be given to the implementation of the changes to the structure of the Data Team.
16 Trainee Courses – Non-Residential
Consideration was given to a report of the Director of Human Resources which advised of the proposal to make firefighter trainee courses non-residential with effect from September 2008.
It was reported that the proposals had been considered as a direct result of the increased size
of courses and associated accommodation requirements together with the anticipated positive impacts in terms of equality and fairness and specifically with regard to gender, religion and belief strategies.
Resolved
That the report be noted.
17 Union Learning Fund
The Director of Human Resources reported upon the Government-funded initiative to promote learning and personal development in the workplace together with the response of this Authority to enter into a formal lifelong learning partnership with the Fire Brigade’s Union.
Participation by any employee in a learning activity agreed by the partnership would be on a voluntary basis and courses would cover the following;
• literacy
• numeracy
• Information and Communications Technology (ICT), and
• minority languages
Resolved
That the report be noted.
18 Personnel Activity Report
The Director of Human Resources submitted a report which advised of personnel activity between the period June 2007 to May 2008.
Resolved
That the report be noted.
19 Application for Early Retirement (JM)
(Exempt information under Schedule 12A (1) of the Local Government Act 1972 – information relating to an individual)
Consideration was given to a report of the Director of Corporate Services which sought approval for the retirement of JM on the grounds of the efficiency of the service and proposals for the Transport Department restructure (as detailed in the report now submitted).
Resolved
(i) That approval be given to the retirement of JM on the grounds of efficiency of the service for the reasons given in the report now submitted;
and
(ii) That the Transport Department be restructured as detailed in the report now submitted.
Chair
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