DRAFT
YORKSHIRE AND HUMBERSIDE REGIONAL FIRE AUTHORITIES’
REGIONAL MANAGEMENT BOARD
MEETING HELD ON THURSDAY 8 JANUARY 2009 AT
BARNSLEYTOWN HALL, BARNSLEY, SOUTH YORKSHIRE
Present:HUMBERSIDE FIRE AND RESCUE AUTHORITY
Councillor D Engall
Councillor B Jefferies
NORTH YORKSHIRE FIRE AND RESCUE AUTHORITY
Councillor J Fort
Councillor K King
SOUTH YORKSHIRE FIRE AND RESCUE AUTHORITY
Councillor P Lakin
Councillor S Phillips
WEST YORKSHIRE FIRE AND RESCUE AUTHORITY
Councillor P Booth (as substitute for Councillor Light)
Councillor M Coulson(in the Chair)
Councillor G Kirkland
Councillor A McKenna
Secretariat:Mr M G Barnes
Mrs N Houseman
Treasurer :Mr B Wilkinson
In attendance :Mr M KhuriHumberside
Mr R HanniganHumberside
Mr N HutchinsonNorth Yorkshire
Mr A TrowsdaleNorth Yorkshire
Mr M Smitherman South Yorkshire
Mr S PillingWest Yorkshire
Mr S BeckleyWest Yorkshire
Ms H DowseCLG
Mr P HudsonRCC project
Mr G HallRCC Director
36APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE
Councillor J Andrews – South Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Authority
Councillor R Light– West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Authority
Apologies were also presented on behalf of CFO F Duffield (Humberside Fire and Rescue Service).
37CHAIR’S ANNOUNCEMENTS
Regional Control Centre
The Chair welcomed to the meeting both Mr Graeme Hall, Director - Regional Control Centre and Mr David Cutting, Secretary - Regional Control Centre.
DCFO Steve Beckley
The Chair extended a warm welcome on behalf of the RMB to DCFO Steve Beckley who had taken up his appointment inWest Yorkshire with effect from 1 January 2009.
Future LACC Meetings – venue
The Chair referred to the decision to hold all LACC Board meetings at the Regional Control Centre – a review into the possibility of holding future meetings of the RMB at the same venue was agreed.
Audit Commission report
The Chair reminded Members that they had been circulated with a copy of the notes of the 16 December 2008 meeting of the Chair’s Working Group. The Group had been convened to consider in detail the recommendations and comments of the Audit Commission in their report “Review of Arrangements supporting the Yorkshire and Humberside RMB”.
RESOLVED
That the recommendations of the Chair’s Working Group at a meeting held on 16 December 2008 be noted.
38MINUTES OF THE BOARD AT A MEETING HELD ON 2 OCTOBER 2008
RESOLVED
That the Minutes be signed by the Chair as a correct record.
39URGENT ITEMS
None.
40ADMISSION OF THE PUBLIC
There were no items which required the exclusion of the public and press.
41DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST
None.
STRATEGIC FUNCTIONS – UPDATE
42Resilience
Consideration was given to a report of the Chief Fire Officer (South Yorkshire) which provided an update on the issue of regional resilience.
Members were advised of the following issues which had arisen since the date of the last meeting;
- National Resilience Extranet (NRE) launched in September 2008 to facilitate electronic transmission of data between Category 1 responders – due for completion late 2009
- Civil Contingencies Act – to be reviewed over course of next 1 – 2 years
- Pitt Review – detail of statutory responsibilities remained unconfirmed
- Counter-terrorism – increased involvement of Fire and Rescue Service by way of enhanced community engagement and New Dimension responsibilities
- National roll-out of new enhanced Command and Control units had been delayed due to technical issues (including unit due to be located at Tadcaster)
It was further reported that the Members champions continued to place an active role in supporting the workstream and held regular meetings with appropriate officers.
RESOLVED
That the report be noted.
43Specialist (Common) Services
Consideration was given to a report of the Assistant Chief Officer of Humberside Fire and Rescue Service and Director of Community Protection advising of the progress made with the work in the Common Services strategic functional theme and specifically in the following areas;
- Regional audit of IT systems
- Publication of Unwanted Fire Signals procedure delayed pending briefing by CFOA or all other stakeholders
The Member champion continued to be involved in debating the issues being considered by the Common Services functional area.
RESOLVED
(i)That the report be noted; and
(ii)That approval be given to the commencement of work on the following projects;
- Creation of regional protocol for fire safety within migrant worker groups
- Research into further means of reducing fire fatalities
44Regional Control Rooms - Part II Business Case
The Treasurer presented detail of the consultation on the FireControl Business case Part II. It was reported that the consultation period would conclude on 27 February 2009.
Members considered and discussed the following specific issues;
- Aims and objectives of Regional Control
- The strategic, economic and financial case for the introduction of Regional Control
RESOLVED
(i)That it be reported to Communities and Local Government (CLG) that the Yorkshire and Humberside Regional Management Board (RMB) were frustrated and very concerned at the timing of the publication of the Business Case consultation documents given that the Regional Control Centres (RCC) had been built and would be coming on-stream in the near future;
(ii)That the RMB agreed with the rationale behind the concept, design and national resilience element of RCC’s;
(iii)That more options should have been offered at the outset with regard to the evaluation of all available alternatives schemes;
(iv)That CLG be requested to give a clearer definition of “out of scope” activities before an opinion could be given on RCC efficiencies and savings;
(v)That it be reported that the RMB considered that adequate information had been given to control room staff and the Fire and Rescue Service in general but this had not been in the form of consultation;
(vi)That more clarity be given with regard to the range of lease terms and the “life expectancy” of IT solutions;
(vii)That a lack of clarity remained with regard to items supplied under “group services” which could have financial implications;
(viii)That the dual / tri-service control centre issue remain “live”;
(ix)That a firm commitment be sought from CLG with regard to the continued New Burdens funding and the long term continuity of the Resilience Grant;
(x)That it be reported that the RMB had serious concerns about the life expectancy and adequacy of the IT infrastructure;
(xi)That the final response to CLG, incorporating items (i) – (x) above, be drafted in consultation with the Chair of the RMB; and
(xii)That the CLG Resilience Director (Shona Dunn) be invited to attend a future meeting of the RMB to outline CLG’s response to the Business Case Part II consultation exercise.
45Regional Control Rooms – update
The Chief Fire Officer with West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service submitted a report which updated Members on the status of the Yorkshire and Humberside FireControl Regional Control Centre project and made specific reference to the following;
- Revision of RCC schedule in Yorkshire and Humberside – due to difficulties with technical solution
- Human resources – consultation to be undertaken on regional basis if possible with representative bodies and independent guidance required with regard to pay protection issues
- Firelink – good progress had been made – reported to be working well in South Yorkshire
Members were advised that the relevant Member champions had been consulted during the preparation of this report.
RESOLVED
That the report be noted.
46Procurement
Consideration was given to a report which advised on progress with the procurement workstream and the current and proposed areas of work as follows;
- Utilities – collaborative procurement arrangements
- Joint procurement (Human Resources system) – Humberside and South Yorkshire
- Framework agreements and responsible procurement
- Completion of business case template (available for regional use) with regard to procurement outwith the Firebuy route
It was reported that Members had attended the Regional Procurement Working Group in December together with a representative of Firebuy.
RESOLVED
(i)That the report be noted; and
(ii)That a representative of Firebuy be invited to attend the March 2009 meeting of the RMB
47HR Management and Training
Consideration was given to a report of the Assistant Chief Fire Officer (Director of Human Resources) of North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service which updated Members on the combined HR Management and Training functions and specifically on the following issues;
- Revised Terms of Reference for the HR Strategy
- Potential regional implications of National Framework 2008 – 2011
Member champions continued to be consulted on the work and progress of the HR Management and Training functional areas.
RESOVED
(i)That the report be noted;
(ii)That approval be given to the revised Regional Human Resources Strategy as detailed in the report now submitted;
(iii)That the analysis of potential regional implications of the National Framework 2008 - 2011 (detailed at annex 2 to the report) be approved in principle and that the issues be formalised in consultation with the Member champions; and
(iv)That the regional Fire and Rescue Authorities be canvassed for their views on further opportunities for joint working and the treatment of any associated “scoping work” costs.
48PROGRAMME MANAGEMENT UPDATE
Consideration was given to a report of the Deputy Chief Fire Officer, North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service which provided a summary of work being conducted within the Region and which advised of the progress made in each strategic functional area on specific projects.
Members were further advised that the recommendations of the Chair’s Working Group in respect of the Audit Commission report (Min no. 37 refers) would be incorporated into the Programme Management system.
RESOLVED
That the report be noted.
49DATE OF NEXT MEETING
RESOLVED
That the next meeting of the Yorkshire and Humberside Fire Authorities’ Regional Management Board be held on Thursday 26 March 2009 at the North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service Training Centre, Easingwold.
Chair