Minutes Full Authority Date: 16 December 2016 Time: 10.30 am Venue: Fire and Rescue Service Headquarters, Birkenshaw Present: In Attendance: Apologies: Councillor J Hughes (in the chair), Ahmed, Anderson, Austin, Burke, Dodds, Graham, Grahame, Harrand, Heselwood, Holmes, O Donovan, Peart, Pollard, Renshaw, Smart, Smith, Tait and Townsley J Roberts Deputy Chief Fire Officer, South Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service Councillor M Ward 51 Chair s announcements New Chief Fire Officer John Roberts The Chair extended a warm welcome on behalf of Authority Members to John Roberts who had been appointed to take over the role of Chief Fire Officer following the retirement of Simon Pilling in 2017. Former Fire Authority Members Members stood in silent tribute to the memory of John Newsome and Dr Graham Kirkland who, both former members of the Fire Authority had passed away since the date of the last meeting. Awards The Chair took the opportunity to formally congratulate the following award recipients; Mohammed Ali (Prevent Manager, Kirklees) Outstanding Endeavour award (Asian Fire Service Association) Balvinder Singh Baines (Fire Safety and Business Support Manager) Positive Action award (Asian Fire Service Association)
Kathryn Richardson (Temporary Youth Intervention Manager) Partnership of the Year award for the Youth Intervention team (Excellence in Fire) Councillor Joanne Dodds Metropolitan Borough Councillor of the Year 52 Membership of the Authority and changes to committee memberships 2016 17 Considerations was given to a report of the Chief Legal and Governance Officer which advised of a change in membership for the Authority and which sought the appointment of the new Member to the vacancies that had arisen thereafter. A resignation had been received from Councillor Glen Miller (Conservative, Bradford) and notification had been received of the appointed replacement Councillor Mike Pollard. The change took effect at 0001h 11 December 2016. a) That the change in membership be noted; and b) That Councillor Mike Pollard be appointed to the following Committees, Human Resources Committee Finance and Resources Committee 53 Admission of the public There were no items which required the exclusion of the public and press. 54 Urgent items None. 55 Declarations of interest There were no declarations of disclosable pecuniary interest made in any mater under discussion at the meeting. 56 Minutes of the last meeting With regard to Min no. 49 (Four-year efficiency statement 2016 20) Members were advised that notice of the draft final settlement for 2017 18 had been received together with advice that all single purpose fire and rescue authority four-year efficiency plans had been approved. The Chief Finance and Procurement Officer reported that the draft 2017 18 settlement was similar to the figures included in the 2016 17 four-year settlement resulting in a further loss of grant of 3.3m. That the Minutes of the last meeting held on 23 September 2016 be signed by the Chair as a correct record.
57 Minutes of the Human Resources Committee That the Minutes of the Human Resources Committee held on 7 October 2016 be received. 58 Minutes of the Finance and Resources Committee That the Minutes of the Finance and Resources Committee held on 14 October 2016 be received. 59 Minutes of the Executive Committee Members received an update with regard to the Communications Review which had been considered as an urgent item at Min no. 17. It was reported that initial feedback had been received and a formal feedback meeting had been arranged for Tuesday 10 January 2016. The Chief Legal and Governance Officer provided Members with an update in respect of Min no. 31 (Appointment to the post of Chief Executive and Chief Fire Officer) and the proposed start date for Mr Roberts in 2017. a) That, whilst recognising there would be a financial impact on the Fire Authority, for business efficiency purposes, a contract start date of 23 January 2017 be approved in respect of the appointment of the new Chief Executive and Chief Fire Officer, John Roberts; b) That a copy of the initial Communications Review feedback be made available to Members; and c) That, subject to a) above, the Minutes of the Executive Committee at meetings held on 17 October, 26 October and 4 November 2016 be received. 60 Minutes of the Community Safety Committee That the Minutes of the Community Safety Committee held on 21 October 2016 be received. 61 Minutes of the Local Government Association With regard to Min no. 5 (Chief Fire Officers Association Reform Programme) the Chief Executive and Chief Fire Officer took the opportunity to advise Members that further progress had been made and a Fire Reform Board would be established comprising CFOA and Local Government Association members to oversee the CFOA reform programme. That the Minutes of a meeting of the Fire Services Management Committee held on 23 September be received.
62 Minutes of the West Yorkshire Police and Crime Commissioner s Partnership Executive Group That the Minutes of the West Yorkshire Police and Crime Commissioner s Partnership Executive Group at a meeting held on 23 September 2016 be noted. 63 Authority Constitution committee delegation variation Consideration was given to a report of the Chief Legal and Governance Officer which sought approval for a variation in the terms of reference for the Executive Committee to include responsibility for approving Tri-service collaboration initiatives. Members were advised that the Tri-Service Collaboration Board had agreed an outline programme of low risk items to be considered for possible shared services. The next meeting of the Board would be held on 9 February 2017. That the Authority s Constitution be amended to reflect a variation made in the terms of reference of the Executive Committee to include responsibility for approving Tri-service collaboration initiatives. 64 Chief Fire Officers Association update report The Chief Executive and Chief Fire Officer submitted a report which provided an update with regard to the changes to role and governance arrangements of the Chief Fire Officers Association (CFOA) following the transfer of responsibility for fire policy to the Home Office. Structural reform of the organisation was agreed in September 2016 and it was reported that a National Fire Chiefs Council would be established to act as an executive body. CFOA would remain but with charitable status, of which the new Chief Executive and Chief Fire Officer, John Roberts, would be a trustee. A new committee structure had yet to be developed. Full commitment to the new arrangements was required by the Home Office of all Fire and Rescue Authorities and it was anticipated that further work would be undertaken to ensure that any additional officer workloads and national roles would be shared out on an equitable basis. Members were advised that the revised structure would cost this Authority an additional 5,700 per annum. 65 Performance Management Report Consideration was given to a report of the Chief Legal and Governance Officer which advised of the Authority s performance against key performance indicators for the period 1 April 2016 31 October 2016. Members commented specifically on the following issues; - attacks on firefighters and police response / action - cost and associated resource implications of fire at SITA Waste Services site - vehicle arson
- grateful support received from Wakefield District officers following the fatal fire in Wakefield - Fire safety education for occupants of multi-occupancy buildings 66 Service Plan Action Plan 2016 17 update The Chief Legal and Governance Officer submitted a report which updated Members on the Service Plan Action Plan 2016 17. 67 Independent Review of Conditions of Service for Fire and Rescue staff in England Consideration was given to a report of the Chief Employment Services Officer which advised of the publication of the Independent Review of Conditions of Service for Fire and Rescue staff in England (the Thomas Review). The report set out the key findings of the review and Members were advised that a detailed analysis would be submitted to the 13 January 2017 meeting of the Human Resources Committee. From an initial assessment many of the recommendations had been predicted and it was reported that West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service, whilst not a consultee for the review, had already addressed many of the issues raised in the review. 68 Appointment of external auditors 2018 19 Members received a report of the Chief Finance and Procurement Officer which sought approval for the appointment of the Local Government Association (LGA) sector-led body as the approved panel to appoint the Fire Authority s external auditors. Approval had been given in principal by the Executive Committee in April 2016 to the appointment of the public sector audit appointment panel (PSAA) and this report set out the three options that had been considered at that stage. The appropriate and agreed share of the cost of establishment and maintenance of the Auditor Panel would be met by the Authority. That the Local Government Association Public Sector Auditor Appointment (PSAA) body be appointed as the approved panel to appoint the Authority s external auditors.
69 Customer Service Excellence assessment 2016 Consideration was given to a report of the Chief Legal and Governance Officer which advised that West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service had attained full compliance against all 57 elements including 14 compliance plus awards. a) That the report be noted; and b) That West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue service staff be congratulated for their dedication and commitment to their work which had resulted in full compliance with regard to Customer Service Excellence. 70 Integrated Risk Management Plan 2017-18 proposals for consultation Members received a report of the Chief Fire Officer and Chief Executive which presented proposals as part of the Integrated Risk Management Planning (IRMP) process for inclusion in the 2017 18 action plan. The two proposals had been developed as part of the Efficiency Research Programme commenced in March 2015. The Programme had originally identified nine possible areas for inclusion in the action plan but was progressing two as follows; - Removal of the Fire Response Units (reduction of 32 posts by natural wastage) - Revision of the Technical Rescue capability (reduction in staffing of the Units from five to three) It was now proposed that the two proposals (for which detailed business cases had been produced as attached to the report now submitted) would be put forward for a 7-week public consultation period (16/12/16 3/2/17) in accordance with the Authority s IRMP Communications and Engagement Plan. The result of the consultation exercise would be submitted to the February meeting of the Authority for final decision. a) That approval be given to undertake external consultation in relation to the two proposals detailed in the report now submitted; and b) That the outcomes of the consultation be reported to the February 2017 meeting of the Full Authority for decision. Chair