Agenda and minutes

The Chair welcomed County Councillor Peter Britcliffe to his first meeting of the Resources Committee.

Apologies were received from County Councillors L Beavers and T Hurn and Councillor Baker.

Members are asked to consider any pecuniary and non-pecuniary interests they may have to disclose to the meeting in relation to matters under consideration on the agenda.

None received.

Resolved: That the Minutes of the last meeting held on 12 July 2023 be confirmed as a correct record and signed by the Chair.

The Assistant Director / Head of Human Resources presented the report.  As a public body there was a requirement to publish information which demonstrated compliance with the Equality Duty created under the Equality Act 2010.  In the exercise of functions there was a requirement to: i) eliminate unlawful discrimination, harassment and victimisation and other conduct prohibited by the Act; ii) advance equality of opportunity between people who shared a protected characteristic and those who did not; and iii) foster good relations between people who shared a protected characteristic and those who did not. 

Regulations enabled by the Equality Act required public authorities to publish their equality objectives and information to demonstrate their compliance with the Equality Duty.  The Annual Equality, Diversity and Inclusion report was one of the ways in which the Service demonstrated this compliance. 

Members considered the report (attached at appendix 1 now presented) which demonstrated performance in terms of meeting legal duties for the period 2022/23 and setting out plans for 2023/24.  It was noted that this was part of a suite of delivery plans that supported the delivery of the People Strategy (which detailed areas of focus in terms of improved accessibility, training and development, recruitment and selection, engagement, consultation, performance management and in the development of policies and strategies). 

Since last year, several cultural reviews in other Services had prompted His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire and Rescue Services (HMICFRS) to encourage Services to deliver on a number of tasks and to report on a number of areas; the Equality Diversity and Inclusion Steering Group also monitored progress in relation to these activities. 

The report detailed some of the actions the Service was undertaking in response to HMICFRS March 2023 Values and Culture report recommendations and the subsequent National Fire Chiefs Council (NFCC) recommendations which related to: i) how members of staff could raise concerns; ii) appropriate background checks; iii) misconduct handling; iv) training and development; and v) the implementation of the Core Code of Ethics.

Core Code of Ethics

The code identified five primary ethical principles which reflected best practice principles and had been designed to underpin the way we serve our communities, carry out our role, and work together:

i)       Putting our communities first (putting the interest of the public, the community and service users first);

ii)      Integrity (acting with integrity including being open, honest and consistent in everything we do);

iii)    Dignity and respect (making decisions objectively based on evidence, without discrimination or bias);

iv)    Leadership (we are all positive role models, always demonstrating flexibility and resilient leadership.  We are all accountable for everything we do and challenge all behaviour that falls short of the highest standards); and,

v)     Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI),  (continually recognising and promoting the value of EDI both within the LFRS and the wider communities in which we serve.  We stand against all forms of discrimination, create equal opportunities, promote equality, foster good relations and celebrate difference).

All employees and those working with or  ...  view the full minutes text for item 16/23

The Director of Corporate Services advised that this report set out the current budget position in respect of the 2023/24 revenue and capital budgets. 

Revenue Budget

Lancashire Fire and Rescue Service’s 2023/24 revenue budget had been set at £68.493m.  The budget profiled to the end of July 2023 was £22.017m.  Expenditure to the end of July 2023 was £22.295m, an overspend on the year-to-date budget of £0.176m  The overspend position was broken down between pay and non-pay budgets; an underspend of £0.014m on pay and a £0.190m overspend on non-pay activities. 

The year-to-date positions within individual departments were set out in the report with major variances of note being shown separately in the table below:

The next scheduled meeting of the Committee has been agreed for 10:00 hours on 29 November 2023 in the Main Conference Room, at Lancashire Fire & Rescue Service Headquarters, Fulwood.

Further meetings are:          scheduled for 27 March 2024, 3 July 2024

                                                proposed for  25 September 2024

The next meeting of the Committee would be held on Wednesday 29 November 2023 at 1000 hours in the Main Conference Room at Lancashire Fire and Rescue Service Headquarters, Fulwood.

Further meeting dates were noted for 27 March 2024 and 3 July 2024 and agreed for 25 September 2024.

The Committee is asked to consider whether, under Section 100A(4) of the Local Government Act 1972, they consider that the public should be excluded from the meeting during consideration of the following items of business on the grounds that there would be a likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in the appropriate paragraph of Part 1 of Schedule 12A to the Local Government Act 1972, indicated under the heading to the item.

Resolved: that the press and members of the public be excluded from the meeting during consideration of the following items of business on the grounds that there would be a likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in the appropriate paragraph of Part 1 of Schedule 12A to the Local Government Act 1972, indicated under the heading to the item.

(Paragraphs 4 and 5)

(Paragraphs 4 and 5)

Members considered a report that provided an update on the various issues which had arisen in respect of the changes to the pension schemes applying to the uniformed members of the Fire Sector.

Resolved: that the report be noted.

(Paragraph 3)

(Paragraph 3)

Members considered a report that provided an update on all contracts for one-off purchases valued in excess of £100,000 and high value procurement projects in excess of £100,000 including: new contract awards, progress of ongoing projects and details of new projects.

Resolved: that the report be noted.