LGA Governance


Agenda and minutes

Agenda and minutes

Venue: Smith Square Rooms 1&2, Local Government House, Smith Square, London, SW1P 3HZ

Contact: Felicity Harris  0207 664 3231 / Email: felicity.harris@local.gov.uk

Note: FSMC 

Items
No. Item

9.

Welcome, Apologies and Declarations of Interest

Minutes:

The Chair welcomed Members to the meeting. 

 

The Chair noted apologies received, and substitute Board members in attendance. 

 

No Declarations of Interest were made. 

10.

Marauding Terrorist Firearms Attacks and Business Continuity Planning - presentation

Minutes:

The Chair invited Julian Hilditch, National Resilience Policy Adviser of the Home Office to introduce the item. 

 

Julian stated that his presentation was in two parts:

 

-       The first part will discuss the Business Continuity Planning in the event of Industrial Action.

-       The second part will discuss Marauding Terrorist Firearms Attacks (MFTA). 

 

Julian touched on many points throughout his presentation, which included:

-       A discussion around the current risk of a national industrial action which currently has a medium to high likeliness.  

-       The right that fire fighters have to taking industrial action. 

-       A worse case scenario for striking would include continuous industrial action. 

-       The Home Office and the National Fire Chiefs Council (NFCC) have made preparations for seven different outcomes of industrial actions, which have included scrutinising the plans different Fire and Rescue Services (FRS) have prepared for. 

-       Julian discussed a letter received by the Minister of State for Policing and Fire Service in January 2018, which sought clarity on the following:

o   Industrial Action provisions. 

o   Improvements regarding levels of resilience. 

o   High rise-buildings.

 

Julian also discussed the key findings in his recent visits to eight FRS’, which included:

-       A cooperation and commitment to improve. 

-       During industrial action, these FRS’ have a combination of arrangements, including private contractors and non-striking personnel. 

-       Julian stated that there is no single model.

-       FRS’ confirmed minimal level of resilience plans, as well as their high-rise capabilities. 

 

Julian stated that the next steps in this work included:

 

-       A letter will be sent to the Minister of State for Policing and Fire Service in June 2018. 

-       The FRS’ are currently implementing improvements. 

-       Reports are due to be drafted in June and July. 

-       The Home Office and NFCC have also given their oversight improvement plans to the FRS’.

-       Julian also discussed the possible future role with Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services (HMIC). 

 

The Chair thanked Julian for the presentation and invited Members to comment:

 

-       Members discussed the possible involvement of the NJC for a broader outlook on industrial action. 

-       Members discussed surprise upon hearing that high rise capabilities had been confirmed.  Members discussed that whilst London had resources in place to deal with high rises, FRS’ outside of London do not have capabilities. 

-       Members discussed the pay negotiations and it’s rating – all agreed that the dialogue between the NJC and FRS’ were as good as ever. 

-       Members discussed ambulance strikes.

-       Members discussed contingency plans put in place by FRS’ that rely on non-striking personnel. 

-       Members discussed the introduction HMIC playing a part in this on-going work. 

-       Members discussed funding issues to FRS’, as well as the need for more reserves. 

-       Members discussed the findings of the questionnaire put out by Julian’s office, particularly in relation to the term ‘guarantee resilience’.  Members went on to discuss how this term – as well as Julian’s findings – could be considered misleading.  ...  view the full minutes text for item 10.

11.

Kerslake Report Fire and Rescue Service Actions pdf icon PDF 77 KB

Minutes:

The Chair invited Roy Wilshire, Chair of the National Fire Chief’s Council to introduce the item. 

 

Roy discussed key findings and went on to discuss next steps, which include a coordinated response by the emergency services o recommendations made in the report,

 

The Chair thanked Roy for the update and invited Members to comment:

 

-       Members discussed the blank spaces in the report.

o   Roy stated that this work was on-going, and that future updates to the report will be made. 

-       Members discussed the media’s coverage of  the terrorist attack in Manchester in 2017. 

-       Members also discussed how the complexities that arose from the fact that the report had arrived at a time when the Greater Manchester (GM) area was politically transitioning, which included the introduction of the GM Mayor, and ceasing of the Fire Commission and Committee in GM. 

 

The Chair thanked Members for their comments.

 

Action:

-       Members noted the report.  

 


12.

NFCC Ops Committee - Kerslake Recommendations pdf icon PDF 167 KB

13.

Emergency Services Mobile Communications Programme Update pdf icon PDF 90 KB

Minutes:

The Chair invited Ian Taylor, Assistant Chief Fire Officer and NFCC Business Change Lead, and Becca Jones of the Home Office, to introduce the item. 

 

Ian updated Members on the delay in the roll-out of the ESMCP, and the proposals for the rollout of the project. 

 

The Chair invited Members to comment on the report:

 

-       Members discussed how communication is vital for FRS to succeed, and how clarity and certainty is needed around both cost and timing.  Members agreed that the project’s status is extremely disappointing. 

-       Members went on to discuss the funding for this project, and how it would be extremely detrimental for FRS if the cost lay with them. 

-       Members discussed how disappointing the rollout of this project has taken. 

-       Members discussed the possibility of consulting with the private sector, and learning from front-runners in the communication sector.  

-       Members discussed the current relationship and discontinuity of the use of Airwave – the current provider to FRS’.

-       Members discussed the technical equipment used by Airwave and how this is now not fit for purpose. 

 

Becca stated that she completely understands the disappointment communicated by Members, and that lessons have been learnt from previous mistakes.  Becca stated that the project was learning from the private sector.  Becca also stated that clarity around cost and timings were currently work in progress – her team were endeavouring to ensure this would be ratified as soon as possible. 

 

The Chair thanked Me3mbers for their comments.

 

Action:

 

-       Members noted the update.     

14.

Automatic Fire Suppression Systems Working Group Report pdf icon PDF 145 KB

Minutes:

The Chair invited Charles Loft, Senior Adviser, to introduce the item. 

 

Charles stated that the report summarised the work of the sprinklers working group set up by the FSMC earlier this year, particularly an overview of the evidence gave at the Automatic Fire Suppression Systems (AFSS) evidence session. 

 

-       Members agreed with the recommendations set out in the report. 

-       Members described some of the evidence given as disappointing. 

-       Members stated that this was just the start of this work and that the LGA needs a robust messaging campaign to spread good practice.  Members agreed that this work was in progress. 

-       Member discussed the definition of vulnerable adults in the report. 

-       Members discussed next steps, and the possibility of releasing a joint position statement aligned with the NFCC. 

 

The Chair stated that this was a solid foundation to start from, and thganked Members for their comments. 

 

Action:

 

-       Members noted the update. 

14a

London Assembly Recommendations pdf icon PDF 81 KB

14b

NFCC Sprinklers Position Statement pdf icon PDF 20 KB

15.

FSMC Policy Priorities for 2018-19 pdf icon PDF 142 KB

Minutes:

The Chair invited Lucy Ellender, Adviser, to introduce the item. 

 

Lucy stated that the paper sets out proposals for the FSMC priorities and work programme for 2018/19.  These priorities were based on corporate LGA priorities, areas of work that the Board previously expressed an interest in, on-going work and recent policy announcements made by the Government.

 

The Chair thanked Lucy for the update.

 

Action:

 

-       Members noted the update and agreed to the recommendations.   

16.

The Hackitt Review and Fire Safety in High Rise Buildings pdf icon PDF 179 KB

Minutes:

The Chair invited Mark Norris, Principal Policy Adviser, to introduce the item. 

 

Mark stated that’s the report outlines:

-       The recommendations from the final report on the independent review of building regulations and fire safety, led by Dame Judith Hackitt, which was published in May. 

-       The implications of these recommendations for FRS’.

-       Other building safety related work since the last FSMC Committee meeting.

 

Mark explained that Members’ views regarding the reviews recommendations will be used to inform the LGA’s response to them and its lobbying around government’s plans to reform the building regulation and fire safety system. 

 

The Chair thanked Mark for the update and invited Members to comment:

 

-       Members discussed the reviews aspects related to inspection and fire safety. 

-       Members also discussed how media attacks firefighters.  Members agreed how vital it was to defend firefighters and safety processes. 

-       Members discussed the positive and negatives to self-regulation. 

-       Members discussed how important this piece of work is to the FSMC.  As a result, Members requested that an additional meeting of the FSMC be held in order to discuss the matter further. 

 

The Chair thanked members for their comments, and agreed to an additional meeting of the FSMC be held in order to discuss the matter further.  The Chair also stated the importance of this item and the need to pay it very close attention, suggestion a response be pulled together and writing a committee position in order to progress further with this work. 

 

Action:

 

-       An additional meeting of the FSMC be organised in order to discuss the Hackitt Review further, where further consideration and next steps can be considered. 

17.

Workforce Report pdf icon PDF 103 KB

Minutes:

The Chair invited Gill Gittins, Principal Negotiating Officer, and Clair Alcock, Fire Pensions Adviser, to introduce the item. 

 

Gill stated that the report updates Members of the FSMC on matters in relation to fire service industrial relations and pension matters at present.  Gill also stated she will take forward any work in line with Members steers and comments. 

 

Gill also stated that:

-       Since this report had been published, the NJC had held their second meeting in Wales. 

-       The meeting with the Scottish minister for FRS’ was planned for the week after. 

-       At the most recent meeting with the NJC, both sides had agreed to progress this work at officer level. 

-       Gill also updated members on the slight increase in diversity in FRS’ recruitment. 

-       Update meetings had been sent out to the Chair and Chiefs. 

-       The Pay award will take effect from 1 July 2018.

 

The Chair thanked Gill for the update and invited members to comment:

 

-       Members thanked officers for their hard work on this important matter. 

-       Members present at the most recent meeting with the NJC was an extremely constructive and positive meeting. 

 

The Chair thanked Members for their comments.

 

Action:

 

-       Members noted the update. 

 

18.

Outside Bodies - verbal update from Members

Minutes:

Members gave no update in relation to their Outside Bodies appointments. 

19.

Fire Services Management Committee Update Paper pdf icon PDF 100 KB

Minutes:

The Chair invited Lucy Ellender, Adviser, to introduce the item. 

 

Lucy stated that the report outlines the issues of interest to the FSMC not covered under other items on the agenda. 

 

The Chair invited Members to comment:

 

-       Members discussed North Yorkshire’s Home Office assessment in relation to a possible statutory oversight of the Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC).  Members also stated that there had been no feedback from the inspectors. 

 

Action:

 

-       Members noted the update. 

-       Lucy to find out more information on North Yorkshire’s Home Office assessment.

20.

Note of last Fire Services Management Committee meeting pdf icon PDF 230 KB

Minutes:

The Board agreed to the Notes of the previous FSMC on 12 March 2018.