This is a default template, your custom branding appears to be missing.
The custom branding should be at https://www.lancsfirerescue.org.uk/reverse-cms/ if you cannot load this page please contact your IT.

Technical Error: Error: The remote server returned an error: (404) Not Found.

Agenda and minutes

Agenda and minutes

Venue: Main Conference Room, Service Headquarters, Fulwood. View directions

Contact: Diane Brooks,  Principal Member Services Officer

Items
No. Item

41/16

APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE

Minutes:

Apologies were received from County Councillors T Aldridge, A Barnes,

D O’Toole and Councillors F Jackson and T Williams.

42/16

DISCLOSURE OF PECUNIARY AND NON-PECUNIARY INTERESTS

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.

Minutes:

None received.

43/16

MINUTES OF PREVIOUS MEETING pdf icon PDF 132 KB

Minutes:

RESOLVED: - That the Minutes of the last meeting held on 30th November 2016 be confirmed as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.

44/16

FINANCIAL MONITORING pdf icon PDF 102 KB

Minutes:

The report set out the current budget position in respect of the 2016/17 revenue and capital budgets and performance against savings targets. 

 

Revenue Budget

The overall position as at the end of January showed an underspend of £1.6m, with a forecast breakeven position at year end, after allowing for the transfer of £2.3m into the capital funding reserve as reported at the February Combined Fire Authority meeting. The transfer to capital funding reserve would be met from forecast underspend as set out in the report, predominantly relating to pay, as well the following areas which were reported at the last Resources Committee, where a virement transferring the budget into the Non DFM budget heading had been actioned:

 

  • Organisational development £0.3m;
  • Retained Duty System Strengthening and Improving project £0.6m;
  • ICT department staffing budget £0.1m; and
  • Wholetime recruits budget £0.2m

 

The Committee was provided with detailed information regarding the position, along with the forecast outturn major variances within individual departments as summarised below: -

 

Area

Over/(Under) spend at 31 Jan

Forecast Outturn

Reason

 

£’000

£’000

 

Property

(185)

(143)

The underspend related to spend against planned repairs and maintenance as property department capacity was almost fully occupied with the working on the current capital projects.  It was expected that this would result in a similar level of underspend by year end.  In addition it reflected previous year’s investment in property assets.  A full stock condition survey had been carried out, the results were expected before the end of March, which would indicate where and how much future investment may be required.   The repairs and maintenance budget for 2017/18 had been reduced by £100k in anticipation of the expected results. 

Service Delivery

(234)

(279)

The underspend reflected the continued reductions in spending across many budget headings, for which next year’s budget had been reduced, the single most significant element of which was the ongoing underspend on smoke detectors and fire safety consumables as the new Home Fire Safety Check process continued to be embedded within the service. 

Utilities were also forecast to be underspent, reflecting past and ongoing energy efficiency measures.  Next year’s budget had been adjusted to reflect the out-turn position.

Pay - wholetime

(409)

(422)

The majority of the underspend related to difference between budgeted staffing numbers and actual staffing number.

Personnel had continued to leave the Service without accruing full pension benefits, with a further 16 personnel doing this since the budget was set, and we anticipated a further 2 more between now and the year end. (This was not allowed for in the budget for 2016/17 as it was not clear whether this was related to changes to the pension schemes or not, however it was now apparent that this trend would continue and hence next year’s budget had been amended to reflect this).

A further element of underspend related to a combination of the timing of costs of ad hoc payments such as overtime and public holidays, and the mix of personnel in each of the pension schemes. All  ...  view the full minutes text for item 44/16

45/16

PENSION BOARD - FIREFIGHTERS' PENSION SCHEMES - UPDATE pdf icon PDF 89 KB

Minutes:

As part of the Pension reforms emanating from Lord Hutton’s review, Lancashire Combined Fire Authority (LCFA) established a local Pension Board in February 2015 to assist the Scheme Manager (LCFA delegated to the Director of People & Development) in securing compliance with the Firefighters’ Pension Scheme regulations and associated legislation and guidance.

 

The Pension Board comprised two officers to represent the employer and two Union officials to represent the Pension members.

 

It was anticipated that membership would be reviewed once the extent of the Pensions Board activities became clear.

 

The report outlined that the National Scheme Advisory Board had not itself become fully established as the true workload had not materialised and that any revision or review of membership would not be fully informed.

 

It was proposed that the current arrangements continued until a meaningful workload was determined.

 

RESOLVED:- That the Committee endorsed continuation of the current arrangements; subject to this being considered further after another year’s operation.

46/16

CODE OF CONDUCT UPDATE pdf icon PDF 46 KB

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Director of People and Development reported since the Code of Conduct was approved by Members at the Resources Committee on 27 November 2015, (resolution 23/15 refers) it had now been updated to reflect the STRIVE (Service, Trust, Respect, Integrity, Valued & Empowered) behaviours adopted throughout the Service and following a request for clarification the requirement to declare a conviction or caution had been made explicit.

 

County Councillor Green felt that the Relationships section should include that LFRS employees should not be expressing their political opinions publically and that it should be clear that it would not be appropriate for any elected member appointed to the Combined Fire Authority to be employed by the Service.

 

The Director of People and Development confirmed that staff had recently received guidance on the use of Social Media.  This set out that if they could be identified as a member of staff there were a number of activities they could not engage with which included being political.  He agreed to consider amending the wording in light of these points.

 

RESOLVED: - That the Committee note and endorse the updated Code of Conduct; subject to any amendments arising from County Councillor Green’s points.

 

47/16

EQUALITY, DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION POLICY pdf icon PDF 56 KB

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Director of People and Development advised Members that an Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Policy had been developed which was part of Lancashire Fire and Rescue Service’s (LFRS) drive to improve performance on equality issues.

 

The Policy clearly identified individual responsibilities and defined LFRS’ commitments in terms of the following:

 

  • Equality: Not treating everyone the same but about fairness, respect and giving people an equal and fair chance of opportunity to fulfill their potential.

 

  • Diversity: Recognising, valuing and taking account of people’s difference, backgrounds, knowledge, skills and experiences.  In the context of this policy it also means encouraging and using difference to create a productive workforce, celebrate difference and recognising the contribution that every individual can make.

 

  • Inclusion:  Positively striving to meet the needs of different people and taking deliberate action to create an environment where everyone feels respected and able to achieve their full potential.

 

The Service should also be cognisant of Unconscious Bias.  The Policy also set out LFRS’ approach to monitoring and training. To further the development of the policy, training for staff was currently being refreshed and this would be made available for all staff to complete.

 

The Director of People and Development advised that he would bring to  subsequent meetings annual reports on what has been achieved in the year including a high level action plan.

 

RESOLVED:-  That the Committee note and endorse the Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Policy.

48/16

DATE OF NEXT MEETING

The next scheduled meeting of the Committee has been agreed for 10:00 hours on Wednesday 28 June 2017 in the Main Conference Room, at Lancashire Fire & Rescue Service Headquarters, Fulwood.

 

Further meetings are: scheduled for 27 September 2017 and 29 November 2017.

                                                 

Minutes:

The next meeting of the Committee would be held on Wednesday 28 June 2017 at 1000 hours in the Main Conference Room at Lancashire Fire and Rescue Service Headquarters, Fulwood.

 

Further meeting dates were noted for 27 September 2017 and 29 November 2017.

49/16

URGENT BUSINESS

An item of business may only be considered under this heading where, by reason of special circumstances to be recorded in the Minutes, the Chairman of the meeting is of the opinion that the item should be considered as a matter of urgency.  Wherever possible, the Clerk should be given advance warning of any Member’s intention to raise a matter under this heading.

50/16

EXCLUSION OF PRESS AND PUBLIC

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.

Minutes:

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.

 

51/16

HIGH VALUE PROCUREMENT PROJECTS

Minutes:

(Paragraph 3)

 

Members considered a report that provided an update on all contracts for one-off purchases valued in excess of £50,000 and high value procurement projects in excess of £100,000 including: new contract awards, progress of ongoing projects and details of new projects with an anticipated value exceeding £100,000.

 

RESOLVED: That the Committee note and endorse the recommendations as outlined in the report.

 

52/16

REPORT ON TRANSACTION OF URGENT BUSINESS - DISPOSAL OF SURPLUS LAND

Minutes:

(Paragraph 3)

 

It was reported for information that, in pursuance of the arrangements approved by the Authority, the following matters, which could not await the next meeting had been authorised by the appropriate Chief Officer following consultation with the Chairman and Vice-Chairman.

 

Approval to dispose of surplus land at Penwortham.

 

RESOLVED: - That the Committee note and endorse the report.

53/16

REQUEST FOR EXTENSION OF PAID SICK LEAVE

Minutes:

(Paragraph 1)

 

The Director of People and Development presented a report to Members on the circumstances relating to a proposed extension of sick pay at half rate beyond the 6 month period specified in the National Joint Council for Local Authority Fire and Rescue Services.

 

RESOLVED: - That the Committee approve not to agree the request for the extension of full sick pay on the grounds that there were no exceptional circumstances.

54/16

URGENT BUSINESS - INSURANCE RENEWAL APRIL 2017

An item of business may only be considered under this heading where, by reason of special circumstances to be recorded in the Minutes, the Chairman of the meeting is of the opinion that the item should be considered as a matter of urgency.  Wherever possible, the Clerk should be given advance warning of any Member’s intention to raise a matter under this heading.

Minutes:

(Paragraph 3)

 

The report set out the arrangements for the Authority's insurance programme.

 

RESOLVED: - That the Committee note and endorse the recommendations as outlined in the report.