Minutes from GPWG meeting 23 May 2022

ITEM 3

Present:    

• Cllr Evonne Williams (Chair)
• Cllr Kevin Gillott
• Cllr Stuart Swann
• Cllr Ruth Skelton 
• Robert Taylor – Deputy Chief Fire Officer
• Judi Beresford – Director of Corporate Services
• Louise Taylor – Solicitor/Monitoring Officer
• Mark Nash - Head of Corporate Financial Services
• Clive Stanbrook – Area Manager Community Safety & Central Policy
• Darren Pick - Station Manager Business Change/Comms
• Fiona Cragg - Organisational Governance Officer
• Nigel Glossop - Head of Systems & Information
• Mandy Marples - Derby City Council/CMAP
• Hannah McDonald - Derby City Council/CMAP 

  
Committee Clerk:    Leanne Mellors

1. APOLOGIES

Cllr Jack Woolley, Cllr Sue Burfoot, Hayley Clark - Ernst & Young LLP, 
Faizan Muhammad - Ernst & Young LLP, Simon Allsop – Director of Finance/Treasurer

2. DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST

None.

3. MINUTES OF THE MEETING HELD ON 28 FEBRUARY 2022

The Minutes were reviewed. Members noted that amendments were required for accuracy on item 6. Internal Audit Progress Report 2021/22 and item 7. Internal Audit Plan 2022/23. Upon completion of these amendments, members confirmed the minutes as an accurate record.   

4. EXTERNAL AUDIT REPORT 2020/21 STATEMENT OF ACCOUNTS

M Nash, Head of Corporate Financial Services provided Members with a verbal update on the External Audit Report 2020/21 Statement of accounts in the absence of auditor H Clark from Ernst Young LLP. 

The Audit Results report from Ernst Young LLP is still being agreed. The report to be taken to the next Fire Authority at the end of June 2022. 

Frustrations were raised regarding the delays from Ernst Young LLP and the impact this is now having on the current 2021/22 audit and year end process. The draft and final account deadline has been extended as part of the revised Accounts and Audit regulations. In the meantime, the Service has made the decision to roll the current balances. 

Chair E Williams, to put a recommendation to the Fire Authority, providing a verbal update to highlight that there is still an issue. Letter to be sent to Ernst Young LLP by E Williams on behalf of GPWG.  

5. CORPORATE RISK MANAGEMENT & BUSINESS CONTINUITY UPDATE

D Pick, Station Manager Business Change/Communications provided a Corporate Risk Management & Business Continuity Update to Members. Four items were identified on the corporate risk register including prolonged loss of ICT infrastructure. It was noted that mitigation has been put in place and continuity plans have been exercised. 

Item two, Issues impacting the ability to receive calls and mobilise appliances. Established arrangements are in place with local partners to provide back up in case of this eventuality. 

Item three, the number of vacancies were highlighted following the on-going difficulties in recruiting to roles. H Minion Strategic HR Partner has commissioned on-going research into salary re-evaluation. J Beresford Director of Corporate Services has also commissioned a piece of work for the LGA to progress. 

Item four, On-Call leaver profile. Forecasts predict that there will be a 25% increase in leavers over the coming twelve months. Mitigation has been put in place to support the continued On-Call recruitment strategy following the newly appointed On-Call Station Manager Day Duty role, purely focusing on On-Call retention and recruitment. 

6. ANNUAL STATEMENT OF ASSURANCE & ANNUAL GOVERNANCE STATEMENT COVER REPORT

6.a LOCAL CODE OF CORPORATE GOVERNANCE 2022

J Beresford, Director of Corporate Services presented members with the Annual Statement of Assurance and Annual Governance Statement Cover Report and Local Code of Corporate Governance. The report outlined how the Service adheres to the seven core principles while fulfilling the responsibilities for the National Framework for Fire & Rescue Services. The Statement and Code will be going to Fire Authority for approval in June 2022. 

Members accepted the recommendations and recommended the report for approval at the full Authority meeting. 

 
6.b ANNUAL GOVERNANCE STATEMENT 2021/22

J Beresford, Director of Corporate Services presented members with the Annual
Governance Statement for 2021/22. The framework outlined the role of GPWG and supporting Officers roles. The report outlined the various governance arrangements and efforts made to support engagement following the pandemic. 

It was highlighted to Members that the Executive Leadership Programme has now been completed by the CFO, DCFO and Solicitor/Monitoring Officer. It was also highlighted that external recognitions have been awarded for the Outstanding Workplace Award 2021. The white paper was received on 19 May and a response will be drafted.   

Members accepted the recommendations and recommended the report for approval at the full Authority meeting. 

6.c ANNUAL STATEMENT OF ASSURANCE 2021/22

J Beresford, Director of Corporate Services presented members with the Annual Statement of Assurance 2021/22. 

Members accepted the recommendations and recommended the report for approval at the full Authority meeting. 

7.  QUARTER 4 PERFORMANCE SUMMARY 2021/22

C Stanbrook, Area Manager Community Safety & Central Policy, provided Members with an overview of the quarter 4 performance summary. 

Some key areas of performance were highlighted. Call handling has successfully been reduced by an average of six seconds. 

A commitment was made to complete additional home visits following the pandemic to make up for the 6,000 safe and well checks unable to be completed due to the pandemic restrictions at the time. This target has almost been achieved. 

Home cooking fires are still at a high, a campaign to promote safety has gone live. 
Deliberate fires are also at a high, although a lot of collaborative work with the Police and EMAS is in progress to reduce these figures. 

Road Traffic Collisions have now reached pre-pandemic figures. Three roads have been highlighted as concerns. £48,000 funding has been identified to improve each road identified has been issued to improve safety measurements. 

Training for core competency is at 100% for all Operational personnel, both Wholetime and On-Call. 

Following the successful CHARLIE campaign, the new FRANCES campaign has been introduced to support referrals, safe & well checks and school visits.