Committees

A meeting of The Highland and Islands Fire Board will take place in the Council Chamber, Highland Council Headquarters, Glenurquhart Road, Inverness, on Friday, 29 January 2010 at 1.00 p.m, or following the meeting of the Northern Joint Police Board, whichever shall be the later.

You are invited to attend the meeting and a note of the business to be considered is attached.

Yours faithfully,

M Morris
Clerk

Declarations of Interest – Members are asked to consider whether they have an interest to declare in relation to any item on the agenda for this meeting. Any Member making a declaration of interest should indicate whether it is a financial or non-financial interest and include some information on the nature of the interest. Advice may be sought from Officers prior to the meeting taking place.

1. Apologies for Absence

2. Presentations

The Chief Fire Officer will present the Chief Fire Officer’s Commendation to Retained Fire Fighter Nikki Hercher. There is circulated Report No fire-01-10 dated 18 January 2010 by the Chief Fire Officer seeking approval to nominate Ms Hercher for a Brave @ Heart award.

A retirement presentation will also be made to Mr Alex MacAllister, former Head of Corporate Services.

3. Presentation on Highlands and Islands Fire and Rescue Service
website

A presentation will be given on the updated Highlands and Islands Fire and Rescue Service website.

4. Minutes of Meeting of 27 November 2009

There are submitted for confirmation as a correct record the Minutes of Meeting or 27 November 2009.

5. Minutes of Integrated Risk Management Planning Working
Group 15 January 2010

There are circulated Minutes of Meeting of the Integrated Risk Management Planning (IRMP) Working Group held on 15 January 2010, together with Report No. irmp-01-10 dated 8 January 2010 by the Chief Fire Officer, previously considered at that meeting of the Working Group.

The Board is asked to approve the following recommendations:

i.    that the IRMP parameters for future Risk Reduction Strategies be revised
     as set out in the report;
ii.   that a report be brought back to a future meeting of the Working Group |
     on the potential to develop extending the Engineering Workshop activity
     to include carrying out work for partners; and
iii.  that the Working Group’s views on legislation requiring the installation of
     sprinkler systems in all new buildings be taken forward to the COSLA
     Community Safety Executive Group and the Fire Conveners’ Forum.

6. Minutes of Policy and Finance Working Group – 15 January 2010

There are circulated for approval Minutes of Meeting of the Policy and Finance Working Group held on 15 January 2010, subject to consideration of item 5 of the Minutes at item 18 below.

In this context, the following papers considered at the 15 January meeting are re-circulated for Members’ consideration:

i. Revenue Budget 2010/11 – Requisitions

There is circulated for approval Report No. pfwg-01-10 by the Treasurer comprising a revised requisition table relating to the approved budget, previously considered by the Policy and Finance Working Group at its 15 January meeting (item 2 of the Minutes refers) and recommended by that Group for approval.

ii. Draft Service Plan for 2009/10-2011/12

There is circulated Report No. pfwg-02-10 dated 8 January 2010 by the Chief Fire Officer on the Highlands and Islands Fire and Rescue Service Draft Service Plan for 2010 to 2012, together with, as an appendix, copy of the draft Plan, previously considered by the Policy and Finance Working Group at its 15 January meeting (item 3 of the Minutes refers) and recommended by that Group for approval.

7. Revenue Expenditure 2009/10 Monitoring Statement

There is circulated for noting Report No. fire-02-10 dated 21 January 2010 by the Chief Fire Officer setting out the current position of the Revenue Monitoring Statement for the period to 31 December 2010.

8. Capital Expenditure 2009/10 Monitoring Report

There is circulated for noting Report No fire-03-10 dated 21 January 2010 by the Chief Fire Officer showing the expenditure and income relating to the Board’s capital programme for the period to 31 December 2010, together with statement by the Treasurer.

9. Performance Reporting

There is circulated for noting Report No. fire-04-10 dated 18 January 2010 by the Chief Fire Officer providing a short summary of Incidents of Note, and an update on the number of incidents attended by the Service for the year to date, under categories reported in the Single Outcome Agreements for constituent authorities.

10. Call Reduction Strategy

There is circulated Report No. fire-05-10 dated 18 January 2010 by the Chief Fire Officer updating Members on the Call Reduction Strategy that commenced in 2005/06 and providing a summary of statistical information.

The Board is asked to agree that the individual policies/procedures forming the Call Reduction Strategy, as set out in the report, be rolled out to other areas of the Service as appropriate.

11. Estate Management

There is circulated Report No. fire-06-10 dated 18 January 2010 by the Chief Fire Officer on a number of Estate Management issues.

The Board is asked to approve:

i.    the proposal set out to review the Design component of delegated
      matters;
ii. the pause proposed for site acquisition; and
iii.  the consideration of other feasible options for HQ office space if the Lease
      in progress cannot be concluded in the near future

12. Capital Projects Monitoring Report

There is circulated for noting Report No. fire-07-10 dated 20 January 2010 by the Director of Housing and Property of the Highland Council summarising the status of all current key projects carried out for the Board.

13. Single Status / Job Evaluation

There is circulated Report No. fire-08-10 dated 18 January 2010 by the Chief Fire Officer providing an update on the position concerning the Single Status Review.

The Board is asked to note the delay in implementation and to agree an “in principle” effective date of October 2010 for the new pay structure, subject to further information being provided to future Board meetings on the actual financial implications.

14. Whistle Blowing Policy - Update

There is circulated for noting Report No. fire-09-10 dated 18 January 2010 by the Chief Fire Officer setting out a revised Policy on Public Interest Disclosure (“Whistleblowing”).

15. Execution of Deeds

Members are asked to note the following deed recently executed on behalf of the Board:

Disposition by Highland and Islands Fire Board in favour of Syd Johnson, Marion Bailey and Elena Johnson of former Fire Station, Dunvegan, Isle of Skye

16. Exclusion of the Public

The Board is asked to resolve that, under Section 50A(4) of the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973, the public be excluded from the meeting for the following items on the grounds that they involve the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in of Part 1 of Schedule 7A of the Act, the relevant paragraphs being shown.

17. Pay Adjustments

Paragraph 11

There are circulated to Members only Reports Nos. Fire10/10 and Fire11/10 dated 21 January 2010 by the Chief Fire Officer.

18. Discipline and Grievance - Update

Paragraphs 1 & 11

There will follow to Members only report by the Chief Fire Officer providing an update on discipline and grievance issues within the Service.