Agenda and minutes

The Chair introduced Dan Greaves, Fire & Resilience Director at the Home Office, who spoke to the Fire Commission about the Home Secretary’s speech on fire reform.

The Home Secretary has great respect for the fire service’s strengths and achievements in securing the continued downward trend in deaths, false alarms, and its work on prevention and with partners. There were three key areas covered in the Home Secretary’s speech: efficiency and collaboration, workforce reform, and governance and transparency.

There is already lots going on across the fire service to reduce expenditure, but the government wants to see all up to the standard of the best. The collaborative duty contained in the Police & Crime Bill is to support this work. Research and development is another key area where Fire and Rescue Authorities (FRAs) can work with CFOA and partners to deliver efficiency.

The Government believes better procurement can result in savings and is an area where efficiencies can be made. The Fire Minister will write to all FRAs and will publish a table showing how much each authority has paid for 25 standard items of equipment.

The government will offer a four year funding settlement in exchange for robust financial plans from authorities.

The Home Secretary set up the College of Policing to set standards and expectations within the police. The intention is to establish something similar for the fire service to drive up standards and professionalism. This provides an opportunity for the sector to set this framework for the service.

The high spend on workforce means it needs to be flexible and diverse. Flexible deployment means an increase in on call firefighters and there shouldn’t be a distinction between on-call and whole-time firefighters. Traditional models should not be barriers to change.

The Home Secretary and the Director have heard from some that the National Joint Council (NJC) is a barrier to change. If so, the challenge to the sector on the NJC is to reform it or withdraw from it.

The natural churn within the FRS gives it an opportunity to change the demographic of the service so that it is more representative. The Home Secretary does not want to set targets for this but she will provide challenge where necessary. There is nothing in the Thomas review that FRAs need to see before they take action on this

On governance the Home Secretary’s view is that a single individual elected with a mandate for change is able to provide strong leadership and accountability at the ballot box. Police and Crime Commissioners (PCCs) are expected to work with local representatives. These plans are not mandatory but are to be locally led. Police will not be taking over the FRS, there will be clear distinctions in finances. The government is not going to change its view on this however, it is willing to have a conversation on who conducts the independent review. Where FRAs do not agree PCC proposals, the Home Secretary will submit the business case for independent review with counter-representations.  ...  view the full minutes text for item 1.

The Chair introduced Paul Hancock, President of the Chief Fire Officer Association, who updated the Fire Commission on the structural changes being proposed for CFOA.

The key changes being made include:

·         Reposition the FRS Council to increase influence and contribution to Fire Strategy and Reform.

·         Establish a permanent and longer term position or post for leading the National Fire Chiefs Council to build and capitalise on relationships with stakeholders.

·         Improve decision making and coordination of key national and local issues.

·         Restructure association to build capacity and maximise contributions and expertise from across the sector (including political input).

Following the presentation several members commented that it is elected members who determine policy and officers who are responsible for operational matters. Members were concerned at the implication CFOA would start to have a policy role and wanted to see the LGA more involved in influencing policy. Members also asked if the research by Kent on the value for money of on-call firefighters would be published. The CFOA President said the report would be circulated to FRAs.

Decision

The Fire Commission noted the update from CFOA.

The Chair introduced Malcolm Eastwood, Chair of the Pension Scheme Advisory Board, who updated the Fire Commission on the Board’s work to date.

The Board is behind on its programme of work but making good progress. The Chair has been travelling the country to meet groups and is keen to avoid duplicating work where possible. The Board has submitted its budget to the Secretary of State for approval and is trying to improve the schemes administration.

Clair Alcock, Fire Pensions Advisor, updated the Commission on the Home Office consultation on proposed amendments to survivor benefits in the 1992 scheme and minor amendments to the 2014 scheme. She also updated the Commission on draft regulations expected in the summer on providing a contributions holiday to members of the 1992 scheme under 50 with 30 years’ service.

Gill Gittins, Principal Negotiating Officer, refreshed the Commission on the economies of scale the National Employers and the National Joint Council have delivered across a range of issues including collective bargaining, one example of which was negotiating flexibility so that local FRSs can match resources and shift patterns to risk.  She informed the Commission that the NJC-led Inclusive Fire Service Group, which included involvement from CFOA, RFU and FOA, was working well.  It had undertaken a detailed piece of research to inform its development of improvement strategies for use at local level on matters such as under-represented groups (recruitment, retention, promotion), bullying and cultural issues.  An interim report should be released shortly. The Fitness Best Practice guide which had its roots in assisting the parties to the pensions dispute was completed and issued in March this year and is available to members. The NJC is also working with the FBU and LGA on apprenticeship matters in light of the apprenticeship levy. In addition, through the auspices of the NJC, work has taken place which has resulted in an excellent take up rate within FRSs of an apprenticeship in Fitness and Exercise. 

Decision

The Fire Commission noted the Workforce report.

Jonathan Smith, Lead Officer for the Emergency Services Collaboration Working Group (ESCWG), discussed the background of the Group and outlined its future work programme.

The ESCWG was set up in 2014 and since then has undertaken a programme of work looking at collaboration across the emergency services. The Group published an overview of the collaboration underway in blue light services across England in November 2014 and is due to publish an updated version shortly.

Mr Smith stressed that strategic buy in was key to successful collaboration and also discussed the efficiency savings provided by the Multi Agency Information Transfer (MAIT) system. Blue light collaboration is important but fire service collaboration is wider including, health, charities and other public services.

Members commented that Fire and Rescue Authorities should be represented on the roundtable discussions about collaboration.

Decision

The Fire Commission noted the update.

Action

Officers to progress as necessary.

Nigel Carruthers, Senior Advisor Workforce Strategy & Consultancy, introduced the paper and updated the Fire Commission on in relation to the government’s apprenticeship policy and how it will impact on fire services.

The aim behind the policy is to provide young people with an alternative to higher education by creating long-term investment to support the development of apprenticeships. The levy will apply to employers with a bay bill in excess of £3million, it is assumed this will cover all Fire and Rescue Services. The levy can only be used to pay for apprenticeship training from government approved training providers.

The Enterprise Bill will give Ministers the power to set public sector organisations with 250 staff or more an apprenticeship recruitment target of 2.3% of the workforce headcount per year. There are no sanctions for failing to comply.

The LGA has opposed the apprenticeship levy because it creates a significant financial and reporting burden on the Fire and Rescue Service. There are opportunities to see how the FRS can maximise the invested levy funds.

One member stressed that their authority was in favour of the scheme and felt it was good for improving diversity within the service.

Decision

Members noted the update and agreed to feed in their views by email.

Action

Officers to progress in line with members feedback.

Decision

The Fire Commission noted the report.

Action

Officers to progress as appropriate.

The Fire Commission agreed the minutes of the previous meeting held on 20 October 2015.